Parker Named USWBA Player of the Year

Parker is third Lady Vol to take home national honor

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced today its 2006-07 women's postseason honors. Tennessee's Candace Parker is the association's National Player of the Year, while Duke's Gail Goestenkors was chosen the USBWA Coach of the Year. Connecticut's Tina Charles is the USBWA's Freshman of the Year.

Parker, one of six repeat All-Americans, is the third Lady Vol to win the USBWA player of the year honor. Chamique Holdsclaw won the award twice, in 1998 and '99, and Tamika Catchings was the player of the year in 2000.

Ohio State's Jessica Davenport, Maryland's Crystal Langhorne, North Carolina's Ivory Latta, Oklahoma's Courtney Paris and Stanford's Candice Wiggins each also repeated as an All-America selection. Davenport was selected to the team for the third straight season. Five of the ten players chosen are centers, as well as Charles, the freshman of the year. Wiggins and Paris are each past winners of the association's freshman of the year.

Following is the complete list of 2006-07 USBWA women's honors:

2006-07 USBWA WOMEN'S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Alison Bales, Duke (C, 6-7, Sr., Dayton, Ohio)
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State (C, 6-5, Sr., Columbus, Ohio)
Sylvia Fowles, LSU (C, 6-6, Jr., Miami, Fla.)
Chrissy Givens, Middle Tennessee (G, 5-11, Sr., Monroe, La.)
Lindsey Harding, Duke (G, 5-8, Sr., Houston, Texas)
Crystal Langhorne, Maryland (C/F, 6-2, Jr., Willingboro, N.J.)
Ivory Latta, North Carolina (G, 5-6, Sr., McConnells, S.C.)
Courtney Paris, Oklahoma (C, 6-4, So., Piedmont, Calif.)
Candace Parker, Tennessee (F, 6-4, So., Naperville, Ill.)
Candice Wiggins, Stanford (G, 5-11, Jr., San Diego, Calif.)

Player of the Year: Candace Parker, Tennessee
Coach of the Year: Gail Goestenkors, Duke
Freshman of the Year: Tina Charles, Connecticut (C, 6- 4, Fr., Jamaica, N.Y.)

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association, formed in 1956, has named a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season. The association has also named a national player of the year since 1987- 88 and a national coach of the year since 1989-90. In 2002-03, the USBWA initiated an award for the nation's top freshman. For more information about the USBWA and its annual awards, contact Executive Director Joe Mitch in the Missouri Valley Conference office at 314-421-0339.