University of Oklahoma Athletics

Women's Hoops Celebrates Season

Women's Hoops Celebrates Season

April 20, 2009 | Women's Basketball

By: Athletics Communications

April 20, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team celebrated its Final Four season and sent off its graduating seniors to a raucous crowd at its postseason banquet Monday night.

With 525 faithful supporters attending at the National Center for Employee Development Conference Center, eight-year OU radio play-by-play voice Brian Brinkley emceed the event.

"I'm not sure how I got this job. I think I might be the only media member who didn't ask Sherri about her hair," Brinkley joked.

OU head coach Sherri Coale began the night thanking the fans for their support of the Sooners and the sport of women's basketball. OU ranked fourth nationally in average attendance in 2009 and the Oklahoma City Regional was the best attended regional of the NCAA Women's Championship.

"You have made Oklahoma City the destination for women's college basketball," Coale said.

Photos  Photo Gallery

Among the team awards received were Most Valuable Player to Courtney Paris, the first player in college basketball history, regardless of gender or division, to record 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in a career. Freshman Whitney Hand was named offensive player of the year and sophomore Danielle Robinson took defensive player of the year honors. Nyeshia Stevenson was honored as most improved.

"This group didn't do exactly what it wanted," Coale said. "There are many ways to measure success and we did better than 99 percent of the athletes in the world. I'm proud of the immense expectations that exist of this program and proud of the legacy left by this team and its seniors."

Coale presented Fast Break Club board member Mike Goodwin with the Sooner Service Award and Jim Wade with the Mary Jane Noble Humanitarian Award.

The event was the last official team obligation of seniors Ashley and Courtney Paris and Carolyn Winchester, all of whom will graduate with their bachelor's degrees in May.

The Paris sisters leave for California and WNBA preseason training Tuesday morning.

2009 OU Women's Basketball Team Awards (as voted by the players)
Most Valuable Player - Courtney Paris
Offensive Player of the Year - Whitney Hand
Defensive Player of the Year - Danielle Robinson
Most Improved - Nyeshia Stevenson
The Nail (player who exhibits mental and physical toughness) - Nyeshia Stevenson
The Glue (player who holds team together) - Danielle Robinson
Monster Board (top rebounder) - Courtney Paris
Shoush Factor (hustle award) - Amanda Thompson
Charge Award (takes most charges) - Danielle Robinson
Foxhole (best teammate) - Ashley Paris
Mojo (player who creates momentum) - Whitney Hand
Sooner Service Award - Mike Goodwin
Mary Jane Noble Humanitarian Award - Jim Wade

 

Related News

Skip Ad
All News
NORMAN, OK - March 22, 2026 - Oklahoma Center Raegan Beers (#15) during the NCAA Tournament Second Round game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, OK. Photo By Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma
Beers Earns Academic All-America Honors for Second Consecutive Year
Thursday, April 16
Jordan Speiser, lead
Baranczyk Adds 2025 McDonald's All-American Jordan Speiser
Tuesday, April 14
Keeley Parks, lead
Oklahoma Signs Five-Star Guard Keeley Parks
Monday, April 13
Aaliyah
Oklahoma's Run Ends at Sweet 16
Saturday, March 28
All News
Skip Ad

Related Videos

Skip Ad
All Videos
Jennie Baranczyk, Payton Verhulst, and Raegan Beers Postgame vs South Carolina
Saturday, March 28
Jennie Baranczyk, Sahara Williams, Aaliyah Chavez, and Raegan Beers Media Availability - 3/27/26
Friday, March 27
WBB Highlights: OU 77, Michigan State 71
Sunday, March 22
Jennie Baranczyk, Raegan Beers, and Payton Verhulst Postgame vs Michigan State
Sunday, March 22
All Videos