Queen of the CourtΒ
In recent years, NCAA Women’s Basketball has skyrocketed into success. Breakout stars such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese set the tone for this array of public support. Last season, Clark was the clear runaway winner for National Player of The Year. With shoes to fill from Clarkβs successful collegiate career, this year has not been disappointing. Three women; Paige Bueckers, Hannah Hidalgo, and Juju Watkins have all had phenomenal performances so far this season. How do these players match up? Who is on track to win player of the year? Who REALLY is the queen of the court? Nicolette, Giselle, and Jordyn, from The Blake Beat make their picks at the mid-way point of the NCAA Division 1 season.Β
Nicolette – Paige Bueckers, UConn:
Uconnβs one and only Redshirt senior Paige Bueckers has not disappointed this season and has truly lived up to the hype. Averaging 19.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over the course of this season, she has led her team to a current 16-2 record. Her field goal percentage increase from 53% to 56% from last season, which showcases her impeccable accuracy and skill on the court. She is prospected to be the #1 pick in the WNBA draft this year.
Her defense, often overlooked, is also a major asset to the UConn team. Bueckersβ quick hands and aggressiveness make’s her a threat on the defensive end, contributing to fast-break opportunities and turnovers. Her ability to make an impact on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court makes her a perfect candidate for Player of the Year.Β
She has not only made an impact on the court but she has also been shaped into a role model for the next generation. Being the first NIL athlete to launch their own Nike sneaker and a player featured in many brand deals and ads, she continues to pave the way for future athletes in the NIL era, particularly for women in sports.Β
Though Bueckers has recently suffered from a knee injury, missing two games, she returned against St. Johns, βfeeling goodβ and ready to βget back out there.β
Giselle- Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame:
Notre Dame has had a great season so far. Their current record is 15-2 with sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo leading the Fighting Irish. Hidalgo has been outstanding this season. Critics and analysts didn’t even include her in the front-runner predictions for Player of the Year prior to the seasonβ¦that soon changed with her groundbreaking achievements.
With just an edge over USCβs Juju Watkins in player of the year predictions, their matchup in November was highly anticipated and a battle of βwho’s really on top?β Hidalgo and Notre Dame came out ready, handing USC and Juju Watkins their first loss of the season. Hidalgo had 24 points and 8 assists leading both teams.
Hidalgo now ranks second in Division 1 scoring and steals and has scored 25 or more points in 8 games (leading the ACC). Juju Watkins is third in scoring as Hidalgo races up the statistical charts. Hannah Hidalgo is not only a beast on the offensive side of the gameβ¦she’s the best one-on-one perimeter defender in the NCAA as shown in her outstanding performance against top-five teams. Hidalgo had 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in an 80-70 overtime win against Texas on Dec. 5th, and 29 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals in a 79-68 win over Paige Buckers and UConn on Dec. 12th.
Hannah Hidalgo has Improved her shooting percentage from last season to 50.4% overall and 45.8 % from behind the arc. This year she is averaging 25.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals per game.
Hidalgo continues to prove why she is truly dominant and the current front runner for Player of The Year.
Jordyn- Juju Watkins, USC:
Juju Watkins brings redemption to the name of USC, rewriting history while also creating more. She has taken the basketball world by storm, proving why she is a force to be reckoned with. Her current season total is 433 points, averaging about 25.5 points per game. In her most recent game played against Penn State, she dropped 35 points to lead them to a win. With only being a sophomore, sheβs on her way to break Caitlin Clarkβs scoring record in the NCAA. She averages 25.5 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game this season.
The Los Angeles native swiftly moved up the ranks in the basketball world from when she was in high school to now playing as a sophomore in college. In her senior year of 2023, she received the βGatorade Player of the Year.β title, along with recipient Paige Bueckers in 2020. Her accomplishments can be highlighted within 2 years of her playing in college, receiving the fastest Power Five womenβs basketball player to reach 1,000 career points. She also broke the record for the NCAA Division 1 number of points reached in her freshman year, surpassing Tina Hutchinson in 1983-1984 season. No need to say more, Juju Watkins is βthat girl.β
Although, we also canβt forget the off court achievements Watkins has been handing the people. She became the first college basketball player to sign with a beauty line, especially like NYX. She also was the third basketball player to sign with Gatorade, and signed an NIL deal with Nike. Making big moves on and off the court is not easy, but Watkins has breezed through the pressure.