LOS ANGELES - Senior Gabby Williams and junior Katie Lou Samuelson were named two of five student-athletes on the 2018 John R. Wooden Award All-American team, as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club Wednesday on ESPNU. The duo are now finalists for the 2018 Wooden Award.

Both Williams and Samuelson have been named AP and USBWA All-Americans this week as well.

A finalist for the Naismith Trophy, Samuelson leads UConn’s top-ranked offense with 17.5 points per game. She also has 4.5 rebounds per game, 112 assists and 35 steals this season, and is averaging 46.8 percent from three-point field goal range. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native is an Ann Meyers Drysdale Award finalist and was named the American Player of the Year for the second straight season. This is the second year in a row Samuelson has been named a Wooden All-American.

Also a finalist for the Naismith, Williams is averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She leads UConn with 179 assists and 84 steals. The Sparks, Nev., native is a Cheryl Miller Award finalist and was named first team all-conference. Williams was tabbed to the America All-Tournament team and was selected as the Albany Regional Most Outstanding Player.

The other women’s Wooden All-Americans are Asia Durr (Louisville), Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon) and A’ja Wilson (South Carolina).

Voting took place from March 13-20, 2018, allowing voters to take into consideration the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. As insisted upon by Coach Wooden at the Award’s creation 42 years ago, all players have been certified by their universities as meeting or exceeding the criteria of the John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy’s®.

The 42nd annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award to the men’s and women’s most outstanding college basketball player will be the anchor presentation of the ESPN College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s on ESPN2 on Friday, April 6, 2018.

Release courtesy UConn Athletics