Elle Evans Selected to Preseason Watch List for Meyers-Drysdale Award

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas senior sharpshooter Elle Evans has been chosen as one of 20 nominees on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List.

The prestigious award is one of the Naismith Starting 5 awards offered, going to the best shooting guard in women's college basketball and presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to highlight the elite talent in the sport.

Evans is the second Jayhawk to earn a spot on a preseason watch list, joining junior S'Mya Nichols, who was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watch List on Monday.

The awards watch list will remain fluid as the season progresses, giving players the opportunity to move on and off the list until the Final 5 are selected. The list will narrow down to 10 players in late January, with the Final 5 being announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

From Edwardsville, Illinois, Evans made an immediate impact for the Jayhawks last season, joining KU as a junior after two years at North Dakota State. She earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after ranking second on the team with 14.4 points per game, while adding 4.1 rebounds on average and leading the team with 17 blocked shots. Evans started all 28 games she appeared in, scoring in double figures 20 times with six games of more than 20 points, including a season-high 30 at Cincinnati.

Known for her quick release and accurate shooting, Evans made 69 three-pointers last season, which tied for second in school history for a single season. She shot 42.1 percent (69-164) from long range, which ranks No. 5 in school history for a single season, while shooting 84.5 percent (60-71) from the free throw line to rank No. 7 in school history. Evans hit a career-high seven three-pointers – one shy of the single game school record – and scored 28 points at Colorado in January.

Evans is one of three players from the Big 12 Conference on the Meyers-Drysdale Preseason Watch List, joined by Taliah Scott (Baylor) and Delaney Gibb (BYU). The award has been presented since 2018, with Juju Watkins of USC winning in each of the past two seasons.

The shooting guard of the year is named for Ann Meyers-Drysdale, who was the first high school player to make the United States national team and the first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship to UCLA. Her high-octane approach translated into wins and awards, and she finished her stellar career at UCLA owning 12 of 13 school records.

A supremely talented all-around player with natural basketball ability and instincts, Meyers was the first player, male or female, named to the All-America team in four straight seasons. She also played on the first women's Olympic team in 1976. After an All-America career, she became the first woman player drafted into the Women's Basketball League and made history by becoming the first female player to try out with an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers. Meyers pushed the envelope in women's basketball, bringing a feel and sense for the game that few players ever experience.

Kansas fans get their first chance to see Evans and the Jayhawks in action tomorrow night, hosting Fort Hays State at 6:30 p.m. CT in the team's lone exhibition contest. KU opens the regular season on Nov. 5, hosting Kansas City for the first of seven non-conference home contests. Season tickets for Kansas women's basketball season are on sale now. For as low as $110, fans can reserve their seat at Allen Fieldhouse for the upcoming season. To learn more about ticket options, fans are encouraged to visit KUAthletics.com or call 800-34-HAWKS.

Elle Watch List

University of Kansas Athletics

Elle Evans Selected to Preseason Watch List for Meyers-Drysdale Award

Players Mentioned

Elle Evans

S'Mya Nichols

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