HOPEWELL, N.J. — Transfer student Brynna Maxwell was one of 25 players to be named to the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List, presented by Her Hoop Stats. The Becky Hammon Award was first given out in 2020, with South Dakota's Ciara Duffy being named the inaugural winner. FGCU's Kierstan Bell won the award in 2021 and 2022.
 
This year's preseason watch list includes representatives from 25 schools and 13 conferences. The Atlantic 10 and MAC lead all conferences with four watch list members, tying the previous record for most representatives on the preseason watch list (MVC 2021-22, MAC 2020-21). 
 
Maxwell, a native of Gig Harbor, Wash., came to Gonzaga after three successful years at the University of Utah. Maxwell is a two-time All-Pac-12 honorable mention and started in 63 games at Utah and played a total of 85. During her freshman year, she was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman first-team and became the first freshman for Utah since joining the Pac-12 to earn Pac-12 All-Conference honors. She currently ranks fifth all-time in program history in threes made in a season with 83 in 2019-20. Maxwell also has scored double figures in 52 games.
 
In the 2021-22 season, Maxwell averaged 10.5 points and 20.5 minutes a game. She had a season-high 24 points against Lipscomb in the Ute's season opener. She also grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against Utah Valley and was just one point shy of reaching a double double.
 
Award Eligibility & Schedule
To be eligible for this award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major." The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award, and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. In January, 15 players will be named to the midseason watch list. The 10 semifinalists will be announced in February, with five finalists being announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March. The list is fluid and players may play their way on or off the list over the course of the season.
 
About Becky Hammon
Hammon was a three-time All-American during her career at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program's only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career. Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history and was recently named to the W25.
 
Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League as well as the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff. Currently, Hammon is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and won the 2022 WNBA Championship in her first season.
 
About Her Hoop Stats
Her Hoop Stats was founded in 2017 to unlock better insight about women's basketball at all levels. We began as a statistics site focused on providing consistent, reliable, and easy-to-access data about women's basketball for both mobile and desktop environments. Her Hoop Stats has expanded to become a leading independent voice in the women's game providing content through our newsletter, podcast network, YouTube channel, and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
 
2023 Becky Hammond Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List
Destinee Wells, Belmont, Jr., G
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Jr., G
McKenna Hofschild, Colorado St., Sr., G
Abbey Hsu, Columbia, Jr., G
Tishara Morehouse, FGCU, Gr., G
Brynna Maxwell, Gonzaga, Gr., G
Kayla Spruill, La Salle, Gr., G/F
Sam Breen, Massachusetts, Gr., F
Peyton Scott, Miami (OH), Sr., G
Megan Walstad, Milwaukee, R-Jr., F
Katelyn Young, Murray St., Jr., F
Shaiquel McGruder, New Mexico, Sr., F
Skyler Gill, North Alabama, So., G/F
A'Jah Davis, Northern Illinois, Sr., F
Kayla Padilla, Penn, Sr., G
Alex Fowler, Portland, Jr., F
Mackenzie DeWees, Quinnipiac, Gr., G
Addie Budnik, Richmond, Jr., F
Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento St., Jr., C
Brooke Flowers, Saint Louis, Sr., F/C
Ioanna Krimili, San Francisco, R-Jr., G
Myah Selland, South Dakota St., R-Sr., F
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Sr., G/F
Starr Jacobs, UT Arlington, R-Sr., F
Jordyn Jenkins, UTSA, Jr., F