The WBCA announced its 10-player All-America team on Saturday, with seven players participating in the 2014 NCAA Final Four taking home honors.
However, UConn's Breanna Stewart was the highlight of the day, taking home both an All-America honor and the AP Player of the Year award. Stewart finished well ahead of fellow All-Americans Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford and Odyssey Sims of Baylor, both of whom UConn coach Geno Auriemma said were deserving of consideration as well, according to Lori Riley of the Hartford Courant.
Stewart became only the third sophomore (joining Maya Moore and Oklahoma's Courtney Paris) to receive the award and the eighth UConn player.
"It's a great reflection of our program and the University of Connecticut," Auriemma said. "Mostly it's the hard work Stewie has put into the game, how much she has improved from last year. You could make a case for Chiney [Ogwumike of Stanford]. You could make a case for [Baylor's] Odyssey Sims.
"But in the end, it's hard to find somebody who's had the type of season Stewie's had all-around. And she's so young. So much pressure on her, given what she did at the Final Four last year. It's not easy for her."
In addition to Ogwumike from Stanford and Stewart, Stefanie Dolson, and Bria Hartley from UConn, Maryland's Alyssa Thomas and Notre Dame's Jewell Loyd and Kayla McBride will also be showcasing their talents in the Final Four. Along with Dolson, Hartley, McBride, Ogwumike, Sims, and Thomas, Jordan Hooper of Nebraska is the other All-America honoree who can probably expect to be selected in the 2014 WNBA draft.
For more on players who could end up in the WNBA, check out our 2014 WNBA draft prospect watch storystream. For more on the Final Four, check out our 2014 Final Four storystream.