Wiggins wins Wade Trophy as national player of the year

Stanford senior guard Candice Wiggins was named the State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year it was announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Saturday.

“I was very shocked and elated and so honored to receive this award,” Wiggins said. “I’ve been at this presentation for the past three years and phenomenal players have received it. I was not expecting to . . . I was just going to sit back . . . but to get the award it’s so amazing.”

Wiggins is in Tampa, Fla. with the rest of her Stanford teammates preparing for Sunday’s 4 p.m. (PT) game in the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

“Just to have it this year, my last year with this team that I just so desperately love, and a

coach that I just absolutely love playing for, that’s what makes it the most special,” Wiggins said. “I can share it with the team.”

Wiggins became just the second Stanford player to earn the award, joining Jennifer Azzi, who was honored in 1990. With her selection to the All-America team, Wiggins is now only the seventh player in Division I history to earn All-America honors each of her four seasons.

“Candice Wiggins demonstrates what this award is all about,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “She is not only a force on the court, but is also a great role model to the community. I am certain Lily Margaret Wade would be pleased to know Candice is receiving this award in her honor.”

Wiggins’ stellar play this season has been a major factor in Stanford’s return to the Final Four and a ranking as high as No. 2 in the nation earlier in the year. Her 20.2 points per game leads the Pac-10, and she became the first player in NCAA tournament history to record two 40-point performances in a single tournament when she scored 44 points against UTEP in the second round, and 41 against Maryland in the Elite Eight.

Wiggins was named Pac-10 Player of the Year for a record-breaking third time.

Wiggins became both Stanford’s and the Pac-10 Conference’s all-time leading scorer (2,590 career points) and three-point shooter (290 three-pointers made). She’s also the Stanford record career record holder for scoring average (19.2), three-pointers attempted (743), free throws made (555) and attempted (675). She’s four steals shy of displacing Sonja Henning’s all-time school record of 280.

Wiggins has also made her mark in Stanford’s single-season record book this year, setting new benchmarks in free throws made (176) and attempted (215), three-pointers attempted (242), and field goals attempted (567). Her current season point total of 748 points is also only five away from tying Kate Starbird’s 11-year-old school record of 753.

“Congratulations to The State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year Candice Wiggins,” said Mark D. Gibson, assistant vice president of advertising at State Farm. “Her outstanding accomplishments as a student-athlete, on and off the court, make her truly deserving of this wonderful honor. We look forward to seeing Candice fulfill the rest of her basketball dreams.”

Wiggins will be formally presented her award at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday.