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Ogwumike, Hasslen named NCAA Woman of the Year honorees

Sep 2, 2014

NCAA Release

SAN FRANCISCO - The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee has named the top 30 honorees from 446 school nominees for the 2014 Woman of the Year award. Among the top-30 candidates are a pair of former Pac-12 standouts: STANFORD’s Chiney Ogwumike and ARIZONA’s Alyssa Hasslen.

Ten women from each of the three divisions, spanning various NCAA sports, make up the top 30. The 30 honorees reflects the pillars of the Woman of the Year award: outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

In late September, three finalists from each division will be selected to form the nine finalists for the award. The 2014 Woman of the Year will be announced at an annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Oct. 19.

Chiney Ogwumike (Cypress, Texas) has left her mark, both in the Pac-12 and at Stanford. The Conference’s Pac-12 Woman of the Year winner, the 2014 John R. Wooden Award national player of the year wrapped up her career on The Farm in the spring after claiming numerous accolades, including Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-America nods from several publications and organizations. Additionally, the international relations major helped Stanford make a return to the NCAA Women’s Final Four, the team’s sixth trip in seven years. She wrapped up her career claiming the Conference’s all-time points (2,737) and rebounding (1,567) records. She became the third player in Pac-12 history, and only second in Stanford history, to be drafted No. 1 in the WNBA, following in her sister’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike’s footsteps, and was recently named the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Off the court, Ogwumike volunteered her time with several children’s organizations, including spending time at local elementary schools and children’s hospitals, while also assisting at various youth basketball camps. She also wrote lyrics and performed two music videos galvanizing the student-athlete community and promoting Stanford’s “Nerd Nation” movement, and had a pair of internships, one of which led her overseas to intern with the Nigerian Ministry of Petroleum and participating with “Access to Success” which conducted basketball camps to help raise $30,000 to build a court for underprivileged youth in Nigeria.

Alyssa Hasslen (McMinnville, Ore.) was a four-time indoor and outdoor track & field athlete at Arizona, competing in the shot put and discus. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree, double majoring in retailing and consumer sciences and family studies and human development. She was a three-time NCAA All-America honoree and won the bronze medal at the 2013 USA Championships in the shot put. She also competed for Team USA at the 2013 IAAF World Championships. Hasslen also earned U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) Academic All-America honors in 2013 and 2014.