Three players are in the running for the top individual award in college basketball. Should South Carolina's Aliyah Boston, Iowa's Caitlyn Clark or Connecticut's Azzi Fudd be the top ranked player?
The trio is the front-runner for national player of the year, but which is having the best season? The updated rankings of the top 25 players in the country for the 2022-23 season were voted on by a panel of 18 broadcasters, analysts and writers.
The best players at this point in the season are the focus of the ballots cast seven weeks after our preseason player rankings. Boston was last season's consensus national player of the year and led the preseason list, and she remains on top in version 2.0, with her perfect South Carolina team ranked first.
It was difficult to figure out how to account for injuries. Some of our panel gave more weight to a player being out than other players. Grace Berger, for example, got fewer votes than those who have recently come back or who have a more definitive timetable, such as Fudd.
Jacy is the hardest player to evaluate. She can make the top 25 when she is healthy. She has only played five games due to a lower-leg injury. She made the list despite the Ohio State's success. There are two players in the top 25 from USC.
There was a player on the list. She didn't make the top 25 this time despite being limited to six games due to injury. There are likely to be more changes before the playoffs. Seven players were not included in the preseason ranking.
Mike Thibault, Muffet McGraw, Roy Philpott, Steffi Sorensen, and Christy Thomaskutty are some of the people who work for the sports network.
The person gets rejected.
Forward | 6-foot-5 | senior | Previous ranking: 1
2022-23 stats:
Boston has not played as much in South Carolina's less competitive games this season. She is one of the best defensive players in women's college basketball and one of the most imposing players. It's difficult to dethrone the champ and last year's Player of the Year hasn't shown she's ready to give up the title. The best player on the best team is Boston, who has seven double-doubles in 11 games. Boston got 11 first place votes.
Clark scored her 2,000th point in her career when she knocked down the 3-pointer.
Guard | 6-foot-0 | junior | Previous ranking: 2
2022-23 stats:
Clark leads the Hawkeyes in a number of categories. She has 2,013 points for her career after scoring 20 in Wednesday's victory. That came in her 75th college game, tying her with Elena Delle Donne for the fastest Division I women's players this century to reach 2,000 points. She scored 45 points against NC State and had a triple-double against Wisconsin. Clark is the nation's most exciting player to watch on offense and defense. Clark got five first place votes.
Guard | 5-foot-11 | sophomore | Previous ranking: 13
2022-23 stats:
Fudd was having one of the best seasons of her career before she tore her knee in the Notre Dame game. She looked like the best player in her class after recovering from an injury. Fudd makes a lot of shots. She is on pace for a 50-40-90 season and is shooting nearly 43% from 3-point range. The efficiency is off the charts when she shoots a 2-point shot. Fudd was once described as an "elite shot-maker" by NBA skills trainer Chris Brickley. Fudd will be out for three to six weeks and will be back in December and January. Fudd got two first place votes.
The Notre Dame bucket was passed byOlivia Miles.
Guard | 5-foot-10 | sophomore | Previous ranking: 8
2022-23 stats:
She believes that she is one of the best college basketball players in the country. She's a do-it-all player for Notre Dame, with an ability to impact a game in many ways. She's one of only two players in the country who average at least 15 points, 7.0 assists, 7.0 rebound and 2.0 steals per game. The conductor for the Fighting Irish, Miles plays with a style and a sense of ease that forces watchers to hang onto her. She became Notre Dame's all-time program leader when she recorded her third career triple-double.
Forward | 6-foot-4 | junior | Previous ranking: 6
2022-23 stats:
Brink's ability to stay on the floor in big games remains a concern, but her talent was on full display as recently as Sunday, when her 21 points, 17 rebound and six blocks against Tennessee helped the Cardinal overcome a fourth quarter deficit to beat the Lady Vols. When she's on the court, there's no doubt she's one of the most important and impactful players in the country, even though she's only playing 20 minutes per game.
The lay-in by Haley Jones fell.
Guard | 6-foot-1 | senior | Previous ranking: 3
2022-23 stats:
Jones is a versatile player in women's college basketball. Jones'Versatility stands out even on a balanced team. She can play anywhere on the floor. In a given moment, Jones has the ability to get a bucket, grab a rebound, handle the ball, and make a long bounce pass. She is a college basketball player.
Forward | 6-foot-6 | senior | Previous ranking: 5
2022-23 stats:
Kitley is the leader of a Virginia Tech team that is on pace to have its best season in program history. Kitley was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in her junior year. She's the only player in the country who averages at least 15 points, 11 rebound and 2.0 blocks per game. She is tied for fourth in Division I with nine double-doubles.
Forward | 6-foot-3| sophomore | Previous ranking: 7
2022-23 stats:
Reese has been doing well for LSU. She is sixth in points per game and sixth in points per game with double-doubles. Reese's ability to crash the offensive glass is one of her many strengths. In three games this season, she has grabbed at least one offensive rebound as many times as her opponents. LSU's strength of schedule may have cost Reese a spot. Reese will likely rise in the rankings if her output continues.
Forward | 6-foot-1 | sophomore | Previous ranking: 14
2022-23 stats:
Morrow was last season's consensus Freshman of the Year. She broke a 30-year old scoring record in a game earlier this month. Morrow's statistics leap off the page and she continues to show herVersatility as a two-way player She's fourth in the country in points per game, fourth in rebound per game and fourth in double-doubles. Morrow's shooting range has expanded this season, making her more dangerous as an offensive threat.
Guard/forward | 6-foot-1 | senior | Previous ranking: 4
2022-23 stats:
There are so many compelling cases to be in the top 10 that Joens dropped from her preseason spot. Joens leads the team in scoring and has one fewer rebound than Soares. With Soares joining Iowa State, Joens wants to give her the ball as well. Last season, Joens became Iowa State's career scoring leader and needs 37 rebound to be the top scorer in the state.
Guard | 6-foot-3 | senior | Previous ranking: 21
2022-23 stats:
If Diamond Miller goes off, Maryland has a good chance of winning. When Miller scores less than 15 points, the Terps are 2-2, with their only loss coming against South Carolina. Her 31 points, including a buzzer-beater, gave Maryland a marquee victory at Notre Dame before she followed it with another dagger 3 at home against Connecticut. She'll play for the rest of the 2022-23 season, as she's expected to be a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
Forward | 6-foot-1 | senior | Previous ranking: 12
2022-23 stats:
It's difficult to consistently put the ball in the basket when all of the attention is on you. That is what Siegrist does all the time. She is shooting from the floor and outside. She is second in the country in both player efficiency rating and win shares. She is the second-leading scorer in the country, and she is doing all of this. She has a lot to carry, and she's showing she can do it.
There is a nice move by the person.
Forward | 6-foot-3 | senior | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
Even though she wasn't ranked in the preseason, her performance in the frontcourt for Indiana made her an obvious addition. Without Grace Berger, she has been a constant for the Hoosiers. Through 13 games,Holmes is shooting a career-best 69.0% from the field and ranks first in the country in field goal percentage. She can finish from both the left or right block when she gets the ball in the paint.
Forward | 6-foot-3 | junior | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
When Dorka Juhasz missed seven games due to a broken thumb, her emergence became even more important. Given the down year she had as a sophomore, and the fact that she's hitting midrange jumpers more consistently than ever before, her statistics are incredible. She has had an impact on the defensive side of the ball as the team has faced a lot of ranked opponents. She has set career highs in scoring in two games in a row, and she will benefit from the health of her teammates.
The lady made a nice bucket against the college team.
Guard | 5-foot-9 | senior | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
With the Bruins finally healthy and home to a stacked freshman recruiting class, which has allowed her to relinquish point guard duties and play at her more natural position of small guard, she is thriving with the team. The Bruins got back into relevance by winning the Battle 4 Atlantis title and rising to No. If the crew can build on their promising start, they could make noise in the conference.
Guard | 5-foot-7 | junior | Previous ranking: 9
2022-23 stats:
Van Lith continues to grow as a scorer despite the slow start. In 10 of Louisville's 13 games, Van Lith has scored at least 18 points. Van Lith has been the leading scorer in all but one game as the Cards have won five in a row. Van Lith is an effective offensive player because of her ability to relentlessly hunt shots and get them off.
Guard | 6-foot-2 | senior | Previous ranking: 15
2022-23 stats:
The disappointing season so far for the Tennessee Volunteers has been on the shoulders of one man. The Lady Vols played well in their loss to the Cardinal on Sunday, as Horston led the way with 19 points. One of the biggest reasons for that will be if Tennessee is able to right its ship during SEC play.
G | 5-foot-11 | senior | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
The third best team in the nation is led by Mikesell. She is a threat to knock down outside shots as well as attacking the rim off the bounce. Mikesell makes defenders pay when he puts them on their heels. When given the chance, Mikesell has come up big, scoring 25 and 26 points against Tennessee and Louisville, respectively.
G | 5-foot-10 | senior | Previous ranking: 11
2022-23 stats:
If a lower leg injury had not limited his availability, this ranking would be higher. She has been out there, and she has been great. She has excelled against Ohio State's best competitors. She scored 22 points at Louisville and registered eight steals. If her games were enough to qualify, she would lead the country with 6 steals per game. One of the nation's best two-way guards, she has helped put Ohio State in position for one of its best seasons in years.
The lay-in by Deja Kelly fell.
Guard | 5-foot-8 | junior | Previous ranking: 23
2022-23 stats:
The Tar Heels rely on Kelly's energy to make big plays. She scored 29 points in a win over Iowa State in the championship game of the Phil KnightInvitational. When Kelly's game is on point, she becomes even more difficult to guard. Kelly can help the Tar Heels fix the slow starts they have had.
Forward | 6-foot-3 | graduate student | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
One of the best and most efficient post games in the country is currently being demonstrated by Kiser. Kiser's production has gone up a lot. She has doubled her assist average and is making more field goal attempts than she did a year ago. The UM team has the same record as a year ago with Hillmon. The main reason Michigan hasn't missed a beat is due to Kiser.
Guard | 5-foot-9 | senior | Previous ranking: 20
2022-23 stats:
He is a person who makes things happen. The two main criticisms of her game are that she isn't the most efficient shooter and she doesn't have the largest body at her position. There are few players more enjoyable to watch in college basketball than she is. Few guards elevate the way she does on a pull-up jumper than she does. She can do a lot of things.
Forward | 6-foot-0 | senior | Previous ranking: 19
2022-23 stats:
Williams has been consistent in her five years in Norman. Since her sophomore year, Williams has scored in double figures only seven times. Williams' minutes and production are down from last year because the Sooners are a lot deeper. She ranks in the top 20 in the country in field goals made per 40 minutes. Williams is the center of a high-powered Sooners attack that ranks fifth in the country in points per game.
Guard | 5-foot-5 | junior | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
Johnson has been out with an ankle injury, but she has been a steadying force for the Wolfpack team that is replacing four starters from last year's Final Four run. In NC State's first top 10 win of the season, Johnson came up huge after struggling in the second half against Connecticut. 10 Iowa poured in 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and added nine rebound. The Wolfpack need those around her to step up as well to contend for the conference title and make a deep NCAA tournament run, but it all starts with Johnson.
Guard | 5-foot-8 | freshman | Previous ranking: NR
2022-23 stats:
Latson was one of the top players in the Class of 2022. She has been a big part of the 12-2 start for the Florida State. Latson is shooting 50.4% from the field, 40.4% from behind thearc, and 82.9% from the foul line. She leads the state with 30 steals. Latson has scored 30 or more points in three of the last four games for Florida State.
Our panel voted on the players.
Berger is in Indiana.
Aijha Blackwell, Baylor
Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Sidney Cooks, Mississippi State
Monika Czinano, Iowa
Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Gabby Gregory, Kansas State
Aubrey Griffin, UConn
Lauren Gustin, BYU
Harmon, TexasRickea Jackson, Tennessee
Taiyanna Jackson, Kansas
Hannah Jump, Stanford
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State
Lou Lopez-Senechal, UConn
Morgan Maly, Creighton
Makenna Marisa, Penn State
Rebeka Mikulasikova, Ohio State
Alexis Morris, LSU
Nika Muhl, UConn
Ashley Owusu, Virginia Tech
Te-Hina Paopao, Oregon
Lauren Park-Lane, Seton Hall
Alissa Pili, Utah
Taylor Robertson, Oklahoma
Endyia Rogers, Oregon
Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
Stephanie Soares, Iowa State
Kennedy Todd-Williams, North Carolina
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Keishana Washington, Drexel
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