Tampa, Fla. Oct. 25, 2023 – University of South Florida senior guard Sammie Puisis is one of 25 players named to the 2024 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year preseason watch list presented by Her Hoop Stats, the organization announced Wednesday.
Puisis averaged 15.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg last season while starting 33-of-34 contests. The Mason, Ohio native put up double-figures in all but five contests and had 11 20-plus point outings. She finished the 2022-23 season with 109 3-point field goals made, the third most in a single season in program history and fifth all-time in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Puisis finished last season ranked fifth nationally in three-point field goals per game (3.21) and total three-pointers made (109).
Entering the upcoming campaign, Puisis was named to the 2024 Ann Meyers-Drysdale preseason watch list and was an AAC Preseason All-Conference First Team selection.
BECKY HAMMON MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Hammon was a three-time All-American during her career at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program’s only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and was traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career. Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history and was recently named to the W25. Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League as well as the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff. Currently, Hammon is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and won the 2022 and 2023 WNBA Championships.
BECKY HAMMON AWARD PRESENTATION
In January the 15-player midseason watch list will be announced, followed by 10 semifinalists announced in February. The five finalists will be announced in early March, with the winner announced around the Final Four. The list is fluid and players may play their way on or off the list over the course of the season.
BECKY HAMMON PRESEASON TOP-25 WATCH LIST
Starr Jacobs, Ark.-Pine Bluff, Sr., G
Caitlin Weimar, Boston U., Sr., F
Destiny Leo, Cleveland St., Sr., G
McKenna Hofschild, Colorado St., Gr., G
Abbey Hsu, Columbia, Sr., G
Katie Dinnebier, Drake, Jr., G
Megan McConnell, Duquesne, Jr., G
Antwainette Walker, Eastern Ky., Gr., G
Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga, Sr., F
Brynna Maxwell, Gonzaga, Gr., G
Kaylynne Truong, Gonzaga, Gr., G
Savannah Wheeler, Middle Tenn., Sr., G
Katelyn Young, Murray St., Sr., F
Diamond Johnson, Norfolk St., Jr., G
Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota, Gr., G
Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton, Sr., G
Ny’Ceara Pryor, Sacred Heart, So., G
Grace Larkins, South Dakota, Jr., G
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Gr., G
Maya McDermott, UNI, Jr., G
Desi-Rae Young, UNLV, Sr., C
Sammie Puisis, USF, Sr., G
Breaunna Gillen, Utah Tech, Gr., G
Jordyn Jenkins, UTSA, Sr., F
Allyson Fertig, Wyoming, Jr., C
BECKY HAMMON AWARD HISTORY
The Becky Hammon Award was first given out in 2020, as South Dakota’s Ciara Duffy was the inaugural winner. FGCU’s Kierstan Bell won the award in the following years back-to-back (2021, 2022), and Massachusetts’ Sam Breen won the most recent award in 2023.
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South Florida women’s basketball recorded its 11th 20-win season during the 2022-23 campaign. USF has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 23 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, has won over 400 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
In 2022-23, the Bulls had four players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Sammie Puisis (AAC Newcomer of the Year, All-Conference Second Team) and Carla Brito (AAC All-Freshman Team).
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