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South Carolina women's basketball star named to top 10 for prestigious award

by:Kevin Miller•about 8 hours•

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South Carolina women's basketball star Te-Hina Paopao (Photo by Katie Dugan)
South Carolina women's basketball star Te-Hina Paopao (Photo by Katie Dugan)

South Carolina women’s basketball guard Te-Hina Paopao is one of 10 candidates remaining for the Nancy Lieberman Award. The news came via a joint announcement from the Naismith Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Monday.

This season, Paopao is averaging 10.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1 steal while shooting 48.4% from the field and 37.1% from behind the 3-point arc. She has helped the Gamecocks to a 21-1 record and No. 2 ranking in the AP poll.

This is Paopao’s second time making the Lieberman Award top 10. Last season, she was one of five finalists for the award. The Lieberman Award goes to the nation’s top point guard each season.

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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball senior Te-Hina Paopao is among the Top 10 candidates for the 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Hall of Fame in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today. It is her second time in as many seasons on the award’s top 10 list, and she was one of five finalists last season.

After grabbing All-America recognition last season, Paopao has broadened her further game this season, becoming a force on defense and a multi-level threat on offense. Her 10.6 points per game include 11.9 per game in her 10 games against ranked opponents and have come on a career-best 48.4 percent field goal shooting. Paopao is scoring 4.4 points per game from the 3-point line, 3.9 from the paint and 1.7 from mid-range. She is second on the team with 2.8 assists per game, meaning she has her hands on 22.4 percent of the Gamecocks’ total offense. In SEC action, her assists rise to 3.1 per game, and her 1.75 assist-to-turnover ratio is 13th-best in the league.

Now in its 26th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for the prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman. In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where winners will be selected. The selection committee is composed of top women’s basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining round starting on Fri., Feb. 7 at HoopHallAwards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.

The winner 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 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).

No. 2/2 South Carolina is on the road for a pair of games this week, beginning on Thu., Feb. 6, at Georgia.

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.

Lieberman Award Top 10
Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
Katie Dinnebier, Drake
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Serena Sundell, Kansas State
Harmoni Turner, Harvard
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Rori Harmon, Texas
Hailey Van Lith, TCU

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