Big East Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Awarded forthe top women's basketball defensive player in the Big East Conference
CountryUnited States
First award1997
Most recentSarah Strong, UConn
 | |
| Awarded for | the top women's basketball defensive player in the Big East Conference |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| History | |
| First award | 1997 |
| Most recent | Sarah Strong, UConn |
The Big East Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year is an annual college basketball award presented to the top women's basketball defensive player in the Big East Conference.
Five players have won the award more than once. Nykesha Sales of UConn, Devereaux Peters of Notre Dame, and Nika Mühl have won twice, and Ruth Riley of Notre Dame and Essence Carson of Rutgers won three times. The award was shared three times. It was given to Jacqui Grant and Aaliyah Lewis in 2017, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Selena Lott in 2021, and Christina Dalce and Kelsey Ransom in 2024.
UConn have the most winners with seven.
| † | Co-Player of the Year |
| C | Coaches selection |
| M | Media selection |
Winners
| Season | Player | School | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Nykesha Sales | UConn | [1][2] |
| 1997–98 | Nykesha Sales (2) | UConn | [1][3] |
| 1998–99 | Ruth Riley | Notre Dame | [1][4] |
| 1999–00 | Ruth Riley (2) | Notre Dame | [1][5] |
| 2000–01 | Ruth Riley (3) | Notre Dame | [6][7] |
| 2001–02 | Meghan Saake | Miami (FL) | [8][9] |
| 2002–03 | Ashley Battle | UConn | [10][11] |
| 2003–04 | Rebekkah Brunson | Georgetown | [12][13] |
| 2004–05 | Chelsea Newton | Rutgers | [14][15] |
| 2005–06 | Essence Carson | Rutgers | [16][17] |
| 2006–07 | Essence Carson (2) | Rutgers | [18][19] |
| 2007–08 | Essence Carson (3) | Rutgers | [20][21] |
| 2008–09 | Angel McCoughtry | Louisville | [22][23] |
| 2009–10 | Sarah Miles | West Virginia | [24][25] |
| 2010–11 | Devereaux Peters | Notre Dame | [26][27] |
| 2011–12 | Devereaux Peters (2) | Notre Dame | [27][28] |
| 2012–13 | Kelly Faris | UConn | [29][30] |
| 2013–14 | Liz Stratman | Butler | [31][32] |
| 2014–15 | Daisha Simmons | Seton Hall | [33][34] |
| 2015–16 | Aliyyah Handford | St. John's | [35][36] |
| 2016–17 | Jacqui Grant † | DePaul | [37] |
| Aaliyah Lewis † | St. John's | ||
| 2017–18 | Dionna White | Georgetown | [38] |
| 2018–19 | Michelle Weaver | Butler | [39] |
| 2019–20 | Chante Stonewall | DePaul | [40] |
| 2020–21 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa † | UConn | [41] |
| Selena Lott † | Marquette | ||
| 2021–22 | Nika Mühl | UConn | [42] |
| 2022–23 | Nika Mühl (2) | UConn | [43] |
| 2023–24 | Christina Dalce † | Villanova | [44] |
| Kelsey Ransom † | Georgetown | ||
| 2024–25 | Lashae Dwyer | St. John's | [45] |
| 2025–26 | Sarah Strong | UConn | [46] |