SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) named Notre Dame graduate student Brianna Turner to its 2019 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List on Friday, recognizing the top-20 centers in the country. With the announcement, the Irish have successfully placed all five starters on each of the ‘Naismith Starting Five’ watch lists.
Turner returns to the Irish lineup after missing all of the 2017-18 season due to injury. Turner is a three-time All-American, three-time First Team All-ACC selection and a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
In her last season (2016-17), Turner averaged 15.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, all while shooting an impressive 61.9 percent from the field, which ranked eighth in the nation. Turner started all 35 games she played, reeling in seven double-doubles and compiling seven games with 20-plus points.
The Texas native ranked first in the ACC in blocks (86) during the 2016-17 season and has accumulated 263 blocks over her career, which ranks second in Notre Dame history behind Ruth Riley’s 370.
The winner of the 2019 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida. For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #LeslieAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
| Kalani Brown | Baylor |
| Kristine Anigwe | California |
| Channon Fluker | Cal State Northridge |
| Daeja Smith | CSU-Fullerton |
| Jade Williams | Duke |
| Megan Gustafson | Iowa |
| Alex Wittinger | Illinois |
| Macee Williams | IUPUI |
| Sam Fuehring | Louisville |
| Hallie Thome | Michigan |
| Teaira McCowan | Mississippi St |
| Kate Cain | Nebraska |
| Jaisa Nunn | New Mexico |
| Janelle Bailey | North Carolina |
| Brianna Turner | Notre Dame |
| Ae’Rianna Harris | Purdue |
| Jordan Moore | TCU |
| Jatarie White | Texas |
| Katie Powell | UNLV |
| Mariella Fasoula | Vanderbilt |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
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