South Carolina women's basketball adds another player to the watch list for preseason honors

On Friday, South Carolina women's basketball senior Sakima Walker was named to the 20-player preseason watch list for the Lisa Leslie Award.

The Lisa Leslie Award, named after one of the greatest post players of all time, annually honors the best center in the country. The Gamecocks are very familiar with the award. As the only school with multiple recipients, USC has five. A'ja Wilson (2017-2018) received the award in its first year. Aliyah Boston (2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023) followed with four straight wins. Kamilla Cardoso was a finalist for the award last season.

Walker's addition to the honors list isn't the first for the Gamecocks this preseason. Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson were on the watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award. Then MiLaysia Fulwiley and Bree Hall cracked the top 20 list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Maryam Dauda was among the nominees on the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list. On Thursday, Sania Feagin made it to the nomination list for the Katrina McClain Award. Paopao, Fulwiley and Johnson were also on the Naismith Award watch list.

Walker on Lisa Leslie's preseason watch list is the third Gamecock center nominated in the last three years.

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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women's basketball senior Sakima Walker is part of the 20-player preseason watch list for the Lisa Leslie Award, which recognizes the best center in Division I women's basketball.

Walker joined the Gamecocks last season after leading Northwest Florida State to the 2023 NJCAA National Championship. The 2023 NJCAA D1 Player of the Year averaged 16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds with 13 double-doubles in her 32 games. Last season with the Gamecocks, Walker honed her skills behind No. 3 WNBA draft pick Kamilla Cardoso and played in 31 games in South Carolina's undefeated run to the 2024 NCAA National Championship.

Fans are encouraged to take part in fan voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, November 1st. At the end of January, the watch list of 20 players for the Leslie Award is reduced to 10, and at the end of February it is reduced to just 5. In March, the five finalists are presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame selection committee, where the winners are selected. The Lisa Leslie Award selection committee is comprised of top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

The 2025 Leslie Award winner will be presented along with the four other members of the Women's Starting Five on a date to be determined. Other awards presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward).

South Carolina officially opens the 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, against Michigan in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas.

Continue to visit GamecocksOnline.com and the team's social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the latest information on women's basketball in South Carolina.

Preseason Watch List for the Lisa Leslie Award
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Anastasiia Boldyreva, Middle Tennessee
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Allyson Fertig, Wyoming
Maria Gakdeng, North Carolina
Nyla Harris, Louisville
Kennedy Jackson, Boston College
Taylor Jones, Texas
Tommisha Lampkin, North Texas
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Alexis Markowski, Nebraska
Rayah Marshall, Southern California
Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Sedona Prince, TCU
Liz Scott, Oklahoma
Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
Sakima Walker, South Carolina
Lauren Ware, Texas A&M
Katelyn Young, Murray State