2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Semifinalists
2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Semifinalists
10 student-athletes representing eight conferences named semifinalists
Hopewell, N.J. (Feb. 8, 2023) – We are proud to announce the 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats. The Becky Hammon Award was first given out in 2020, with South Dakota’s Ciara Duffy being named the inaugural winner. FGCU’s Kierstan Bell won the award in 2021 and 2022.
Below are the 10 semifinalists, listed in alphabetical order by school. This year’s group of semifinalists includes representatives from 10 schools and eight conferences. The Mountain West and WCC both have two semifinalists. All stats only include games against Division I opponents unless otherwise noted and are through games on Feb. 5.
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McKenna Hofschild, Colorado St., Sr., G
2022-23 Stats: 22.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.0 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason, 2023 Preseason
Hofschild is on pace to post an unprecedented combination of scoring volume, assist totals, and ball security. Hofschild would be the first player in the Her Hoop Stats Era (since 2009-10) to average at least 20 points, five assists, and fewer than two turnovers per game, and she is doing it with plenty of room to spare. She is also on pace to become just the second player in the HHS Era to post a 50% field goal percentage, 50% three-point percentage, and 80% free-throw percentage (min. 50 3PA, 50 FTA, 100 FGA).
Abbey Hsu, Columbia, Jr., G
2022-23 Stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.2 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason, 2023 Preseason
Hsu has been the leader of a Columbia team that has risen to the top of the Ivy League, contributing in many ways. Hsu is one of just six players in Division I to shoot at least 42% from 2-point and 3-point range on at least five attempts each per game this season (min. 10 games). Among those players, Hsu is one of two players to also average more than four rebounds per contest.
Keishana Washington, Drexel, Gr., G
2022-23 Stats: 27.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason
Washington, who was already an efficient volume scorer last season, has jumped to the upper ranks of the scoring leaderboard this season while somehow managing to be even more efficient. Even more impressive is that she is involved in 42.7% of Drexel’s shots, free throw trips, or turnovers while on the court. Despite that nation-leading usage rate, she has posted a turnover rate that ranks in the best 3% of Division I.
Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga, Jr., F
2022-23 Stats: 16.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 1.4 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason
After starting just a single game last year, Ejim has stepped into the spotlight for one of the nation’s perennial top mid-major programs. Ejim’s offensive and defensive rebounding rates both rank in the top 6% of the country, and she is one of just six players to average at least 16.5 points, eight rebounds, and half a block per game while shooting at least 50% from the floor.
Kiki Jefferson, James Madison, Sr., G
2022-23 Stats: 18.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.2 APG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason, 2022 Preseason
Jefferson has improved in just about every area of her game this season to become one of the nation’s best players at filling up all areas of the box score. She has increased her scoring efficiency and set career bests in assists, rebounds, turnovers, and fouls on a volume and rate basis.
Sam Breen, Massachusetts, Gr., F
2022-23 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2022 Semifinalist, 2022 & 2023 Midseason, 2023 Preseason
Breen has hit another level in conference play this season, increasing her rebounds, assists, and steals per game once A-10 action began, while raising her scoring efficiency. She is the only player in Division I to average 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 steals per game in conference play.
Alex Fowler, Portland, Jr., F
2022-23 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason, 2021 & 2023 Preseason
Fowler’s scoring efficiency has exploded this season, jumping from an impressive 1.18 points per scoring attempt last season (ranked 159th) up to 1.35 PPSA, which ranks 25th in the nation. Fowler has also upped her assists (3.3 vs. 3.1) while cutting down on turnovers (2.3 down from 2.7).
Myah Selland, South Dakota St., R-Sr., F
2022-23 Stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.5 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2021 Semifinalist & Finalist, 2023 Midseason, 2022 & 2023 Preseason
Selland has led the Jackrabbits back to the top of the Summit League. They are tied for the nation’s third-longest winning streak (13, tied with UNLV) and their last defeat came at the hands of South Carolina. Throughout the winning streak, Selland is averaging 17.2 points per game on an impressive 61.2% effective field goal percentage.
Desi-Rae Young, UNLV, Jr., C
2022-23 Stats: 17.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG
Previous Appearances: First Appearance
Young’s impressive season, in which she has set career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, has guided UNLV to a 22-2 start and into the conversation for an at-large bid – out of an underrated Mountain West – should they not win the conference tournament. Head coach Lindy La Rocque’s trust in Young to play with foul trouble has kept her on the court for more than five extra minutes per game compared to last season, a big reason for Young’s increase in output this season.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, USF, R-Sr., F
2022-23 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 1.0 SPG
Previous Appearances: 2023 Midseason
On a balanced team with many key players, Fankam Mendjiadeu’s emergence as one of the country’s most dominant players has been a revelation for USF. She is one of just two players in the country (Angel Reese, LSU) in Division I to average at least 16 points and 12 rebounds, and has done so against a tougher schedule according to opponent average winning percentage.
Award Eligibility & Schedule
To be eligible for this award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be “mid-major.” The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award, and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. In October, the 25-player preseason watch list was announced. The 15 midseason watch list members were announced in February, and the five finalists will be announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March. The list is fluid and players may play their way on or off the list over the course of the season.
About Becky Hammon
Hammon was a three-time All-American during her career at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program’s only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career. Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history and was recently named to the W25.
Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League as well as the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff. Currently, Hammon is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and won the 2022 WNBA Championship in her first season.
About Her Hoop Stats
Her Hoop Stats was founded in 2017 to unlock better insight about women's basketball at all levels. We began as a statistics site focused on providing consistent, reliable, and easy-to-access data about women's basketball for both mobile and desktop environments. Her Hoop Stats has expanded to become a leading independent voice in the women's game providing content through our newsletter, podcast network, YouTube channel, and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).