This week in Pac-12 Women's Basketball - March 3, 2021

• The Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament, presented by New York Life, begins Wednesday at Michelob ULTRA Arena (Mandalay Bay Events Center) in Las Vegas. STANFORD earned the top seed and has secured a first-round bye in every tournament since its start in 2002. ARIZONA earned the No. 2 seed, and UCLA at No. 3 and OREGON at No. 4 round out the top four seeds.

• The Pac-12 Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva, were announced on Monday. ARIZONA’s Aari McDonald was tabbed the Pac-12 Player of the Year as well as the Co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside STANFORD’s Anna Wilson. WASHINGTON STATE’s Charlisse Leger-Walker was named the Freshman of the Year, STANFORD’s Lacie Hull earned Sixth Player of the Year honors, and STANFORD head coach Tara VanDerveer was named the John R. Wooden Coach of the Year for the 16th time in her illustrious career.

• STANFORD enters the Pac-12 Tournament ranked #4 in the latest AP poll, followed by #9 UCLA, #11 ARIZONA and #19 OREGON. OREGON STATE is receiving votes.

• Four Pac-12 teams boast a top-14 NET ranking, led by STANFORD at #1 and followed by #7 UCLA, #10 OREGON, #14 ARIZONA, #29 OREGON STATE, #43 WASHINGTON STATE, #50 COLORADO and #79 USC for eight teams in the top 80. The four teams in the top 14 are the most of any other conference.

• Once again four teams were announced during the NCAA’s Top 16 reveal on Monday, with STANFORD at #2 and a top overall seed and followed by ARIZONA at #7 (2), UCLA at #10 (3) and OREGON at #15 (4).

• ARIZONA’s McDonald and UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere were among the 11 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy, which is presented annually to the top player in women’s college basketball.