Oklahoma State University Athletics
Vivian Gray Added To Wade Trophy Watch List
February 19, 2020 | Cowgirl Basketball
ATLANTA – Oklahoma State's Vivian Gray was one of 10 players added to the "Wade Watch" list of candidates for the 2020 Wade Trophy by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Selection Committee it was announced today.
The distinction adds to a list of recent honors for the native of Argyle, Texas, who last week was named one of 10 finalists for the Cheryl Miller Award, which is presented to the nation's top small forward.
Gray ranks among the Big 12's leaders in numerous categories. She currently ranks third in scoring at 19.8 points per outing, ninth in assists at 3.7 per game, third in free-throw percentage at 84.5 percent, ninth with her 1.8 steals, 15th with her 1.5 made 3-pointers per game and eighth in assist-turnover ratio. Additionally, she is limiting her defensive assignments to just 29 percent shooting from the floor and 9.4 points per outing.
In her second year as a Cowgirl, Gray has already become one of the school's most prolific scorers, reaching the 1,000-point mark faster than any player in program history (51 games). She has scored in double figures in 50 consecutive games and 53 of her 55 outings as a Cowgirl.
In addition to being a preseason All-Big 12 pick, Gray appeared on the Naismith Award Watch List and earned Big 12 Player of the Week and NCAA.com Starting Five honors the last week of January.
In addition to Gray, joining the preseason list of 30 Wade Trophy hopefuls are Te'a Cooper of Baylor, Elissa Cunane of North Carolina State, Japreece Dean of UCLA, Kathleen Doyle of Iowa, Dana Evans of Louisville, Jazmine Jones of Louisville, Micaela Kelly of Central Michigan, Lindsey Pulliam of Northwestern, and Jocelyn Willoughby of Virginia.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 43nd year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The WBCA will announce the four finalists for the honor in mid-March. The winner of the 2020 Wade Trophy will be announced April 2 in New Orleans — site of the 2020 WBCA Convention and NCAA Women's Final Four.
