REVISED: Baylor WBB’s Smith, Richards Honored by USBWA as All-Americans

[Robarts, Kyle]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – April 2, 2021

Baylor WBB’s Smith, Richards Honored by USBWA as All-Americans
Smith lands on third All-America team of the season, Richards gets first of career
For more information contact: Kyle Robarts, 254-405-9492, Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu<mailto:Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu>

Smith head shot: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5xfe1iu1x9f4tp/BU_WBB_Smith_NaLyssa_20-21.JPG?dl=0
Richards head shot: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve65a3ms8np3r4e/BU_WBB_Richards_DiDI_20-21.JPG?dl=0

WACO, Texas – Baylor junior power forward NaLyssa Smith picked up her third All-America award of the season as a second-team selection, and Lady Bears senior point guard DiDi Richards was an honorable mention All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Friday.

Smith has already selected as a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press and ESPN.com.

Smith was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 Championship and was an NCAA Riverwalk Region All-Tournament selection after Baylor’s exit in the Elite 8.

Smith averaged 18.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the charity stripe. She added 38 steals on defense to go with 26 blocks for the 28-3 Lady Bears.

She is also in the running for three national player of the year awards, including the John R. Wooden Award, the Wade Trophy award and the Naismith Trophy award.

Richards finished her Baylor career at third all-time on the school’s career list for assists with 568 with her first three seasons at the wing position. She was a Nancy Lieberman Award Finalist for nation’s top point guard in her first season at the position. Last season as a junior, she swept National Defensive Player of the Year awards from Naismith and the WBCA.

Richards was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team for the third-straight year in 2021, and she was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, a season after winning the award. She ranked in the NCAA Top 10 in assists per game for the second-straight year (6.8) and Top 25 in assist-to-turnover ratio for the second-straight season (2.55:1) as well.

Both players led Baylor to its 12th Big 12 Regular Season Championship, the 11th Big 12 Tournament Championship in program history.

2020-21 USBWA WOMEN'S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Pos.
First Team
Ht.
Yr.
Hometown
F
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
6-5
So.
St. Thomas, USVI
G
Paige Bueckers, UConn
5-11
Fr.
Hopkins, Minn.
G
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
6-0
Fr.
West Des Moines, Iowa
G
Dana Evans, Louisville
5-6
Sr.
Gary, Ind.
F
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
6-2
Jr.
Cleveland, Ohio
G
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
6-2
Jr.
Cleveland, Tenn.
Pos.
Second Team
Ht.
Yr.
Hometown
F/C
Charli Collier, Texas
6-5
Jr.
Mont Belvieu, Texas
C
Elissa Cunane, N.C. State
6-5
Jr.
Summerfield, N.C.
G
Aari McDonald, Arizona
5-6
Sr.
Fresno, Calif.
F
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
6-2
Jr.
Converse, Texas
G
Kiana Williams, Stanford
5-8
Sr.
San Antonio, Texas
Pos.
Third Team
Ht.
Yr.
Hometown
G
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
5-11
Sr.
Sapulpa, Okla.
G/F
Ashley Joens, Iowa State
6-0
Jr.
Iowa City, Iowa
F
Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State
6-4
Sr.
Lufkin, Texas
F
Michaela Onenywere, UCLA
6-0
Sr.
Aurora, Colo.
G
Ashley Owusu, Maryland
6-0
So.
Woodbridge, Va.
Honorable mention: Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast; Grace Berger, Indiana; Zia Cooke, South Carolina; Mia Davis, Temple; Rennia Davis, Tennessee; Arella Guirantes, Rutgers; Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee; Haley Jones, Stanford; Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse; Nancy Mulkey, Rice; Olivia Nelson-Ododa, UConn; N’dea Jones, Texas A&M; Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State; DiDi Richards, Baylor; Maddy Siegrist, Villanova; Christyn Williams, UConn.




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