2021 Nancy Lieberman Award Finalist

Ali Patberg Indiana
Patberg, in her sixth year of eligibility with the Hoosiers in 2020-21, currently averages 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and a +2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. She has scored in double figures in seven games for IU this season and dished out multiple assists in 13 games. 

Paige Bueckers UConn
Bueckers leads UConn with 18.5 points, 5.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game, as well as a 54.8 three-point shooting percentage. She has scored in double digits in 10 games this season, including four games with 20+ points. Bueckers has notched 5+ assists in nine games.

Raina Perez NC State
The Goodyear, Ariz., native is averaging 9.8 points and 4.8 assists per game after starting each of the last 10 outings. Perez has compiled a 43-of-92 (.467) shooting mark and is also shooting 33.3 percent (11-of-33) from long range this season.

Perez has compiled 57 assists to just 22 turnovers, with her 2.59 assist-to-turnover ratio pacing the ACC and ranking 31st nationally. She has dished out three or more assists in 10 games total and five or more assists in six games total. Additionally, Perez has put together four outings with three or more assists and zero turnovers.

Diamond Johnson Rutgers
The Philadelphia, Pa. native has scored in double-figures in all eight games to start her collegiate career, reaching 18 or more in her last four contests. Johnson has made at least one 3-point field goal in all eight games, while connecting on multiple field goals from beyond the arc in five of those eight contests.

Tiana Mangakahia Syracuse
Through 11 games, Mangakahia is averaging 10.4 points, 7.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on a 9-3 Syracuse squad.

Destiny Slocum Arkansas
Hailey Van Lith Louisville
Myah Taylor Mississippi State
DiDi Richards Baylor
Dyaisha Fair Buffalo


The winner of the 2021 Lieberman Award will be presented April 9, 2021, along with the four other members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men’s Starting Five. College basketball fans can support their favorite players by participating in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies.

Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018-20), Kelsey Plum, Washington (2017), Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut (2015-16), Odyssey Sims, Baylor (2014), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga (2011), Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State (2010), Renee Montgomery, Connecticut (2009), Kristi Toliver, Maryland (2008), Lindsey Harding, Duke (2007), Ivory Latta, North Carolina (2006), Temeka Johnson, LSU (2005), Diana Taurasi, Connecticut (2003-04), and Sue Bird, Connecticut (2000-02).