Phylesha Whaley Named State's Woman Of The Year

Aug. 25, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - The NCAA named Oklahoma's Phylesha Whaley, a former women's basketball player, as the state Woman of the Year in an announcement earlier this week by the national office. The award honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership.

Whaley, who led Oklahoma in scoring for four years, earned her bachelor's degree in sociology in July 2000 and recently accepted an assistant coaching position with Texas-San Antonio. The Slaton, Texas, native boasts an impressive list of athletic, academic and community service accomplishments, including being named the 2000 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year and a Kodak All-American. She also was a three-time all-league first-team selection and a four-time team MVP. Whaley left as the school's and Big 12's top scorer with 2,187 points. She earned this honor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament when she poured in 33 points against Brigham Young, the second most points recorded in a 2000 NCAA Tournament game. She also holds the school record for most points in a single game with 40, established a year ago at Arkansas.

"Phylesha is well deserving of this honor," said OU Head Coach Sherri Coale. "She is a perfect model of a student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma. Phylesha has done great things on and off the basketball court that makes her a unique person. We are very proud of what she has done for the university and the women's basketball program."

The 5-10 forward became the first player in school history to be drafted by a professional team. Whaley was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in the third round and was the 38th overall pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft in April. She ended her collegiate career averaging 18.9 points and 7.7 rebounds. In addition to being Oklahoma's all-time leading scorer, she also ranks at the top of eight other career charts, including free throws made (552), offensive (313) and defensive rebounds (579) and minutes played (4,056).

Academically, she was placed on numerous All-Big 12 teams, Commissioner's Honor Rolls and Sooner Scholars lists. Whaley also was heavily involved in the Norman community as she devoted at least one hour a week to a Norman elementary school as a mentor. She was the team leader in the United Way Meals on Wheels and Day of Caring programs. Plus, she participated in OU's City Sights tour that featured Sooner Speaking Tours, free basketball clinics and Sooner Shadow programs.

The four-year team captain and Student Athlete Advisory Board member was honored by the Athletic Department when she was the recipient of the Athletic Director's Leadership Award this past spring.

Whaley was the only women's basketball player in the league to earn the state honor and was one of only three student-athletes from the Big 12 Conference to be selected. Others were Kansas State's Dawn Cady (volleyball) and Nebraska's Janet Dutton (track).

Former OU volleyball player Meredith Van Horn and track and field standout Jenny Bramer earned the State NCAA Woman of the Year honor in 1999 and 1997, respectively.

More than 350 student-athletes were nominated for this year's award by their colleges and universities. An award winner from each state and the District of Columbia was named. A committee comprised of representatives from member schools selected the state winners. The state-level winners include 14 student-athletes from Division I, nine student-athletes from Division II and 28 student-athletes from Division III. These student-athletes participated in 15 of 18 sports in which women compete for NCAA Championships.

The national winner will be selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and will be announced at the 2000 NCAA Woman of the Year dinner presented by Rawlings on Oct. 15 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. For a complete list of state award winners visit the NCAA web site at http://www.ncaa.org/awards/woty/.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Phylesha Whaley Named State's Woman Of The Year

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