Paopao Named to Lieberman Award Top 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball senior Te-Hina Paopao is among the Top 10 candidates for the 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Hall of Fame in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today. It is her second time in as many seasons on the award’s top 10 list, and she was one of five finalists last season.
After grabbing All-America recognition last season, Paopao has broadened her further game this season, becoming a force on defense and a multi-level threat on offense. Her 10.6 points per game include 11.9 per game in her 10 games against ranked opponents and have come on a career-best 48.4 percent field goal shooting. Paopao is scoring 4.4 points per game from the 3-point line, 3.9 from the paint and 1.7 from mid-range. She is second on the team with 2.8 assists per game, meaning she has her hands on 22.4 percent of the Gamecocks’ total offense. In SEC action, her assists rise to 3.1 per game, and her 1.75 assist-to-turnover ratio is 13th-best in the league.
Now in its 26th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for the prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman. In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where winners will be selected. The selection committee is composed of top women’s basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining round starting on Fri., Feb. 7 at HoopHallAwards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
The winner of the 2025 Lieberman Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date along with the four other members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
No. 2/2 South Carolina is on the road for a pair of games this week, beginning on Thu., Feb. 6, at Georgia.
