Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist named a finalist for Naismith Player of the Year Award
Siegrist, the two-time reigning Big East Player of the Year, was recently named a first-team All-American and leads the nation in scoring at 29.1 points per game.
Villanova's Maddy Siegrist is honored during a Big East Tournament game at Madison Square Garden on March 8. She was the Big East player of the year and its female scholar of the year.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Both the men’s and women’s Naismith Trophy finalists were announced on Tuesday afternoon, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, Villanova star Maddy Seigrist was listed among the four finalists on the women’s side.
Siegrist, the two-time reigning Big East Player of the Year, was recently named a first-team All-American and leads the nation in scoring at 29.1 points per game. She has scored at least 20 points in all 36 of Villanova’s games this season, including 31 on Monday night to help the Wildcats defeat Florida Gulf Coast and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.
Being named a finalist for the Naismith Trophy is just the latest honor for the senior forward. Earlier this season, she brokeboth Villanova and Big East career scoring records (men and women), and earlier this week, she became just the fifth woman ever to score 1,000 points in a single season at the Division 1 level.
In addition to Siegrist, Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston, and Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley were named the other women’s finalists. On the men’s side, Purdue center Zach Edey, Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson are up for the award.
The Villanova team huddles around Brooke Mullin before their game against Florida Gulf Coast in the 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Brooke Mullin (left) of Villanova grabs hands with Nick Gaynor, Ambassador for Villanova Athletics, as she leads the team out for their game against Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The Villanova team huddles before their game against Florida Gulf Coast in the 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The packed Villanova student section for the game against Florida Gulf Coast in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Brooke Mullin (left) of Villanova and Emma List of Florida Gulf Coast go after a loose ball during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Lucy Olsen (top) of Villanova scores over Emma List of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (center) of Villanova fights for rebound with Tishara Morehouse and Uju Ezeudu (right) of Florida Gulf Coast during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (center) of Villanova shoots over Emma List of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova shoots over a Florida Gulf Coast defender during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Bella Runyan of Villanova goes up for a basket against Florida Gulf Coast during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Burke (right) of Villanova blocks a shot by Sha Carter of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova comes up with a steal against Uju Ezeudu of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova shoots over Florida Gulf Coast defenders during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (right) of Villanova shoots over Maddie Antenucci of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (right) of Villanova blocks a shot by Sha Carter of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Christina Dalce of Villanova goes up for a basket against Florida Gulf Coast during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova is removed from their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to a standing ovation as the team advances in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players celebrate their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. L-R: Maddy Siegrist, Lucy Olsen, and Bella Runyan.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players celebrate their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Coach Denise Dillon of Villanova celebrates after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. It was her 400th career victory.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (left) hugs Coach Denise Dillon of Villanova after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. It was COach Dillon's 400thcareer victory.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
L-R: Maddy Siegrist, Kylies Swider, Brooke Mullin, Maddie Burke, Kaitlyn Orihel, Megan Olbrys, and Lucy Olsen of Villanova celebrate after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players celebrate their victory with Villanova students after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Megan Olbrys (front) and Bella Runyan celebrate their victory with Villanova students after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Zanai Jones (left) and Christina Dalce of Villanova do a victory dance after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Megan Olbrys (left) and Christina Dalce of Villanova do a victory dance after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The Villanova huddles after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. Brooke Mullin center.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The women’s Naismith Trophy will be presented on March 29 in Dallas during the Final Four while the men’s award will be handed out four days later in Houston at a luncheon the day before the NCAA men’s title game.
I am the hockey editor for The Inquirer and oversee all of our Flyers coverage. I work closely with beat writer Jackie Spiegel and occasionally pitch in as a writer when needed across various sports. I also contribute to our Eagles team as an editor and work closely with our interns from Villanova.
