UConn's Nurse Named Top Defensive Player

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut Senior Kia Nurse has been named the 2018 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year.

The WBCA made the announcement Thursday.

The Defensive Player of the Year award honors the best defensive women's basketball player in all of NCAA Division I. All conference defensive players of the year in NCAA Division I are considered for the award. The WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year award began in 2007.

Nurse is the third Husky to win National Defensive Player of the Year after Stefanie Dolson (2014) and Gabby Williams (2017).

Nurse is averaging 13.7 and 3.4 rebounds per game while adding 99 assists and 44 steals. She is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award and currently holds a 44.4 three-point field goal percentage. The Hamilton, Ontario, native was a first team all-conference selection. Nurse was also named an AP honorable mention All-American this week.

The Huskies will face Notre Dame in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four on Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

Photo Credit: UConn Athletics