SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Friday, Feb. 3, that Washington State women's basketball players Bella Murekatete has been named a midseason top-10 finalist for the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award.
It is the first time that Murekatete has been named a top-10 finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award earning a spot on the Leslie Award's Preseason Watchlist last season. The Butare Huye, Rwanda native is having a career year for the Cougars, as Murekatete is averaging a career-best 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season. The 6-3 post player has also been a rim protector this season, as she is fifth in the Pac-12 Conference with 29 total blocks.
Named after the three-time All-American,1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer, Lisa Leslie, the annual award in its sixth year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Quay Miller (Colorado), Alexis Markowski (Nebraska), Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Monika Czinano (Iowa), Dorka Juhász (UConn), Taiyanna Jackson (Kansas), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), and Jessika Carter (Mississippi State) join Murekatete as this year's finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today, Feb. 3, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Murekatete has helped Washington State get off to its best start in the NCAA era in school history, as the Cougars are 15-6 this season, tying them with the 1995-96 team. The center has recorded a career-best five double-doubles this season. Murekatete has scored double-digit points in 17 games this season and has tallied 20 or more points in five contests. Murekatete's best game of the season game back on Nov. 21 against Troy in Laie, Hawai'i, when she scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down a career-best 16 points.
The 6-3 post ranks inside the top 10 in the Pac-12 in field goals made (2nd; 121), blocks (5th; 29), blocks per game (6th; 1.38), field goal percentage (7th; 47.1%), and rebounds per games (9th; 7.2). Murekatete's 13.8 points per game also rank 14th in the Pac-12.
The winner of the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Murekatete is the second Washington State women's basketball player to be named to a top-10 finalist for a National Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Starting Five honor, as junior Charlisse Leger-Walker was named a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award earlier this week.
Washington State returns to Beasley Coliseum this Friday, Feb. 3, when they host No. 2-ranked Stanford. Tip-off against the Cardinal is set for 7 p.m. PT. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking the link here.
For more information on the Washington State women's basketball team, follow @WSUCougarWBB on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.