KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2021 Wade Trophy was released on Tuesday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and Lady Vol senior Rennia Davis has made the preseason list for the second year in a row.
The Wade Trophy, now in its 44th year, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2020-21 season.
Davis, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward from Jacksonville, Florida, previously has been announced as a member of the 2020-21 Women’s Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy and Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch lists as well as the SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC First Team. The UT standout has displayed an impressive knack for knocking down shots at clutch moments during her career. She has hit 14 buckets with the game clock winding down, with two of those falling just before the final horn.
The second-leading returning scorer in the SEC, Davis was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2020 as well as an All-America honorable mention recipient from the AP, USBWA and WBCA. She averaged 18.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2019-20 while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 80.2 percent from the free throw line.
With a scoring average that was the best by a Lady Vol since Candace Parker put up 21.3 ppg. in 2008, Davis enters her final collegiate season tied with Bashaara Graves for 10th in UT history with 29 double-doubles during her first three seasons on Rocky Top.
Davis averaged 19.9 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. vs. league foes in 2019-20. She hit 49.6% from the field and 82.8% at the charity stripe in 16 regular-season contests. Against nine ranked opponents, Davis tallied 19.8 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. and shot 43.8% on field goals and 84.2% on free throws vs. those teams.
The two-time All-SEC choice ranked fifth in the conference in rebounding last season at 8.2 rpg. and eighth in field goal percentage (.469) and stands No. 5 in both categories among returning players. She finished No. 4 in the SEC in free throw percentage at .802 a year ago and is No. 2 among returnees this season.
Davis is among the SEC’s active player career leaders, ranking second in points (1,400 points) and double-doubles (29) and third in rebounds.
-UT Athletics
