Atlanta Tipoff Club | February 25, 2020 10 semifinalists announced for Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year award 5 best women's basketball players at every position in 2019-20 Share The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, the award given to the top defender in women's college basketball. The list will be narrowed down to four finalists on March 11 before a winner is named on April 5. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: 30 candidates named to Naismith Trophy Player of the Year midseason team The Big 12 leads all conferences with three players on the list, followed by two each from the SEC and Pac-12 with additional semifinalists from the ACC, Big Ten and WCC for a total of six conferences represented. This is the third year of the award, with Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan (2018) and California's Kristen Anigwe (2019) being its first two recipients. Both winners have since graduated, meaning a new player will win in 2020. NAME SCHOOL CLASS POSITION CONFERENCE Aliyah Boston South Carolina Freshman Forward SEC Brittany Brewer Texas Tech Senior Forward Big 12 Lauren Cox Baylor Senior Forward Big 12 Jordan Danberry Mississippi State Senior Guard SEC Sara Hamson BYU Junior Center WCC Ae'Rianna Harris Purdue Senior Forward Big Ten Aari McDonald Arizona Junior Guard Pac-12 Mikayla Pivec Oregon State Senior Guard Pac-12 DiDi Richards Baylor Junior Guard Big 12 Kylee Shook Louisville Senior Forward ACC 2022 March Madness South Carolina beats UConn for 2022 title | Tournament results | Full bracket BRACKET TRACKER: How every perfect bracket busted STORE: Official South Carolina championship gear| Latest college basketball gear College basketball: What is the Jimmy V Classic? Here's what you need to know about the Jimmy V Classic, which is inspired by former North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator Jim Valvano and his fight against cancer. READ MORE 7 programs with strong cases to be college basketball's next 1st-time champion These schools have never won a men's basketball national championship — for now. READ MORE Schools with the most DI women's basketball national championships UConn has more DI women's college basketball titles than any other program. Here's a look at the women’s basketball teams that have won two or more national championships. READ MORE