Graduate center Sakima Walker of the California women's basketball team has been named to this year's Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, it was announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday morning. The Lisa Leslie Award, in its ninth year, honors the top center in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It is named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
 
Walker, a 6-foot-5 transfer from South Carolina, played in 46 games with the Gamecocks and helped them become just the fifth program in NCAA history to go undefeated and win a national championship. Prior to playing for South Carolina, Walker spent the 2022-23 season at Northwest Florida State where she was named the NJCAA DI Player of the Year after averaging 16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, scoring 20 or more points 10 times and posting 13 double-doubles over 32 games en route to leading the Raiders to the 2023 NJCAA National Championship.
 
The watch list is made up of 20 nominees from across the country and the selection committee is composed of top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The Lisa Leslie Award is voted on and presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
 
The list will narrow down to 10 players in late January, with the Final five being announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Indianapolis.
 
Fans can also vote for their favorite players HERE starting today. The player who receives the most votes will earn an additional vote towards her count.
 
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