2021 NCAA Women's Basketball All-Americans

An All-American team is an honorary sports team composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not compete together as a unit, the term is used in U.S. team sports to refer to players who are selected by members of the national media. Walter Camp selected the first All-America team in the early days of American football in 1889.[1] The 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball All-Americans are honorary lists that include All-American selections from the Associated Press (AP), the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. Both AP and USBWA choose three teams, while WBCA lists 10 honorees.

2021 NCAA Women's Basketball All-Americans
Members of the 2021 All-America first team (AP, USBWA). Clockwise from upper left: Boston, Bueckers, Howard, and Smith. Dana Evans not pictured.
Awarded for2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season
← 2020 · All-Americans · 2022 →

A consensus All-America team in women's basketball has never been organized. This differs from the practice in men's basketball, in which the NCAA uses a combination of selections by AP, USBWA, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), and Sporting News to determine a consensus All-America team. The selection of a consensus All-America men's basketball team is possible because all four organizations select at least a first and second team, with only the USBWA not selecting a third team.

Before the 2017–18 season, it was impossible for a consensus women's All-America team to be determined because the AP had been the only body that divided its women's selections into separate teams. The USBWA first named separate teams in 2017–18. The women's counterpart to the NABC, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), continues the USBWA's former practice of selecting a single 10-member (plus ties) team. Sporting News does not select an All-America team in women's basketball.

By selector

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Associated Press (AP)

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Announced on March 17, 2021.[2]

First team Second team Third team
Player School Player School Player School
Aliyah Boston South Carolina Caitlin Clark Iowa Chelsea Dungee Arkansas
Paige Bueckers UConn Charli Collier Texas Natasha Mack Oklahoma State
Dana Evans Louisville Elissa Cunane NC State Michaela Onyenwere UCLA
Rhyne Howard Kentucky Naz Hillmon Michigan Ashley Owusu Maryland
NaLyssa Smith Baylor Aari McDonald Arizona Kiana Williams Stanford

AP Honorable Mention

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[3]

United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA)

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Announced on April 2, 2021.[4]

First team Second team Third team
Player School Player School Player School
Aliyah Boston South Carolina Charli Collier Texas Chelsea Dungee Arkansas
Paige Bueckers UConn Elissa Cunane NC State Ashley Joens Iowa State
Caitlin Clark Iowa Aari McDonald Arizona Natasha Mack Oklahoma State
Dana Evans Louisville NaLyssa Smith Baylor Michaela Onyenwere UCLA
Naz Hillmon Michigan Kiana Williams Stanford Ashley Owusu Maryland
Rhyne Howard Kentucky

Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

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Announced on April 3, 2021.[5]

Player School
Aliiyah Boston South Carolina
Paige Bueckers UConn
Caitlin Clark Iowa
Chelsea Dungee Arkansas
Dana Evans Louisville
Naz Hillmon Michigan
Rhyne Howard Kentucky
Aari McDonald Arizona
NaLyssa Smith Baylor
Kiana Williams Stanford

By player

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Player School Year AP USBWA WBCA Notes
Aliyah Boston South Carolina 1 1 1
Paige Bueckers UConn 1 1 1
Dana Evans Louisville 1 1 1
Rhyne Howard Kentucky 1 1 1
NaLyssa Smith Baylor 1 2 1

Academic All-Americans

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The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced its 15-member 2021 Academic All-America team on May 28, 2021, divided into first, second and third teams, with Aliyah Boston of South Carolina chosen as women's college basketball Academic All-American of the Year, also becoming the first sophomore so honored in D-I women's basketball.[6]

First Team
Player School Class GPA and major
Aliyah Boston South Carolina So. 3.81, Mass Communications
Kailey Coffey Northern Kentucky Sr. 4.00, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Vivian Gray[a] Texas Tech GS 3.58/4.00, Interdisciplinary Studies
Lexie Hull Stanford Jr. 3.92, Management Science & Engineering
Sam Thomas Arizona GS 3.97/4.00, Psychology (UG) / Organizational Leadership (G)
Second Team
Player School Class GPA and major
Dana Evans Louisville Sr. 3.49, Sport Administration
Ayoka Lee Kansas State Jr. 3.88, Psychology
Ali Patberg Indiana GS 3.71/4.00, Finance (UG) / Recreational Administration (G)
Myah Selland South Dakota State Jr. 3.97, Exercise Science / Community & Public Health
Kiana Williams Stanford Sr. 3.38, Science, Technology & Society
Third Team
Player School Class GPA and major
Laura Bagwell Katalinich Minnesota GS 3.93/4.00, Communications (UG) / Sport Management (G)
Conley Chinn Belmont Sr. 4.00, Psychology
Elissa Cunane NC State Jr. 3.34, Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology
Lainey Gosnell Appalachian State GS 4.00/4.00, Psychology
Dariauna Lewis Alabama A&M Jr. 3.77, Biology
  1. ^ Third team in 2019–20.

Senior All-Americans

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The 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, called Senior All-Americans, were announced on February 22, 2021.[7] Rennia Davis of Tennessee was named the recipient on April 2, with the first and second teams also being announced at that time.[8]

First team

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Player Position School
Rennia Davis Guard Tennessee
Dana Evans Guard Louisville
Blanca Millán Guard Maine
Michaela Onyenwere Forward UCLA
Jill Townsend Guard Gonzaga

Second team

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Player Position School
Arella Guirantes Guard Rutgers
Nancy Mulkey Center Rice
IImar’I Thomas Forward Cincinnati
Unique Thompson Forward Auburn
Mariah White Guard Cleveland State

References

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  1. ^ The Michigan alumnus. University of Michigan Library. 2010. p. 495. ASIN B0037HO8MY.
  2. ^ "UConn freshman Paige Bueckers leads women's AP All-America team". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Jenn Wirth, Townsend Named Honorable Mention AP All-American". wccsports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "USBWA Names 2020-21 Women's All-America Team" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. April 2, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "Wade Trophy Winner NaLyssa Smith of Baylor Headlines 2021 WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team" (Press release). Women's Basketball Coaches Association. April 3, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Corey Kispert of Gonzaga, Aliyah Boston of South Carolina Lead Academic All-America® NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Basketball Teams" (PDF) (Press release). College Sports Information Directors of America. May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Men's and Women's Basketball Finalists Announced for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award" (Press release). Premier Sports Management. February 22, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Tennessee's Rennia Davis Wins 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award® for Women's Basketball" (Press release). Premier Sports Management. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.