South Carolina women's basketball guards make award watch list

On Tuesday, South Carolina women’s basketball guards MiLaysia Fulwiley and Bree Hall made headlines. The Gamecock duo made the preseason watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award annually honors the country’s top shooting guard. The award’s name honors the first four-year scholarship recipient in women’s college basketball history.

Two years ago, former Gamecock Zia Cooke brought home the honor. Last year, Southern Cal’s JuJu Watkins won the award. Understandably, she is on the preseason watch list again.

Fulwiley, a sophomore from Columbia, appears poised for a breakout year after showing flashes as a freshman. Hall, a senior, hopes to build off of a career-best showing during the 2023-2024 season. Both Fulwiley and Hall played significant roles on last year’s undefeated National Championship squad.

The nomination comes one day after Raven Johnson and Te-Hina Paopao made the watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award. Fulwiley, Johnson, and Paopao also made the preseason list for the Naismith Award given to the country’s top player.

South Carolina joins the LSU Tigers and TCU Horned Frogs as the only programs with multiple Meyers Drysdale nominees. Mikaylah Williams and Flau’jae Johnson earned the honor from LSU, while Hailey Van Lith and Madison Conner did from TCU. Neither Fulwiley nor Hall made the watch list last season.

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From the USC Athletics press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball guards MiLaysia Fulwiley and Bree Hall earned spots on the 20-player preseason watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I women’s basketball.

Fulwiley’s freshman season saw her wow audiences with her creative playmaking while making steady contributions to the Gamecocks’ undefeated National Championship season on both sides of the ball. This season, the SEC coaches and media picked her as a Preseason All-SEC Second-Team selection, and she is on the Naismith Trophy Watch List as well. Fulwiley was the Gamecocks’ top scorer 11 times last season, the second most on the team, as part of 23 double-figure scoring games, which included three 20-point outings. She finished with 11.7 points per game, which was second on the team, and grabbed SEC Tournament MVP honors after averaging 14.3 points at the event, including a 24-point outing in the title game.

Hall showed off her leadership, steady play and penchant for clutch shooting last season as she moved into the starting lineup for the first time in her career. She averaged 9.2 points on 44.0 percent shooting as a junior, which were both career highs. Hall scored in double figures 16 times in 2023-24, and put on defensive clinics like her effort against #11/9 UConn to hold Paige Bueckers to just 8-of-20 shooting. Her clutch 3s at #24/24 North Carolina, at #9/9 LSU, and at Tennessee were keys to big comeback wins in all three games.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Fri., Nov. 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10. Then in late February, to just 5. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Meyers Drysdale, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.

The winners of the 2025 Lieberman Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).

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

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on South Carolina women’s basketball.

Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List

Sarah Andrews, Baylor
Mara Braun, Minnesota
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Madison Conner, TCU
Jayda Curry, Louisville
Azzi Fudd, UConn
MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
Bree Hall, South Carolina
Lauren Jensen, Creighton
Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
Laila Phelia, Texas
JJ Quinerly, West Virginia
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Taliah Scott, Auburn
Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
Jewel Spear, Tennessee
Hailey Van Lith, TCU
JuJu Watkins, Southern Cal
Mikaylah Williams, LSU

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