Christyn Williams named Big East Preseason Player of the Year; Paige Bueckers named Preseason Freshman of the Year

UConn women’s basketball’s return to the Big East has the Huskies not only on the top of the conference pre-season poll, but in the top spot for pre-season individual accolades as well.

Christyn Williams was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year on the cusp of her junior season. Williams averaged 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Huskies last year, following up a stellar freshman season with a good, not great, sophomore campaign. However, since returning to campus this fall, she has noted she feels more explosive on the court than ever and seems poised for a standout season for UConn.

Highly touted and No. 1 ranked recruit Paige Bueckers also collected preseason honors on Thursday, as she was named the Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year. Bueckers first season with the Huskies comes with high expectations, following plenty of buzz and fame surrounding her senior season in high school. She is widely noted as one of the best recruits in recent memory, including the best for UConn since Breanna Stewart.

In addition, juniors Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Evina Westbrook were named to the All-Big East Preseason Team. Award-winners are not eligible to make the all-conference preseason team.

The preseason Big East individual accolades can be found here:

Preseason Big East Player of the Year:

Christyn Williams, UConn

Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year

Paige Bueckers, UConn*

All-Big East Preseason Team

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, UConn

Evina Westbrook, UConn

Temi Carda, Creighton

Lexi Held, DePaul

Sonya Morris, DePaul*

Selena Lott, Marquette*

Leilani Correa, St. John’s

Qadashah Hoppie, St. John’s*

Desiree Elmore, Seton Hall*

Maddy Siegrist, Villanova*

A’riana Gray, Xavier

*Unanimous selection