Hey folks! Big news in the world of women’s basketball! Three amazing players from the Mountain West Conference have made it onto the prestigious Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Watch List. Let’s give a shoutout to McKenna Hofschild from Colorado State, Desi-Rae Young from UNLV, and Allyson Fertig from Wyoming. These ladies are absolute powerhouses on the court!
First up, we have McKenna Hofschild, who dominated the game last season. She led both the Rams and the Mountain West with an impressive average of 20.6 points and 7.2 assists per game. Talk about skills! McKenna also made history by being the only player in her program to achieve back-to-back 200+ assist seasons. And guess what? She even earned the title of an Associated Press All-American, the first for her program since the legendary Becky Hammon. No wonder she was named the Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year!
Next, we have the talented Desi-Rae Young from UNLV. This senior player is no stranger to success. She was named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team and was also crowned the MW Tournament MVP last season. Desi-Rae is a force to be reckoned with, averaging a double-double with 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She’s a true all-around player, ranking among the top 15 in the nation for double-doubles, field-goal percentage, and field goals made. And let’s not forget, she was a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award in 2023!
Last but certainly not least, we have Allyson Fertig from Wyoming. This girl knows how to make an impact on the court. Allyson was also named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team and was an All-Mountain West Team member last season. With an average of 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, she’s a true force to be reckoned with. Allyson’s shooting percentage of nearly 59% is absolutely impressive. She’s had numerous games with double-digit points and rebounds, proving her consistency and skill.
The Becky Hammon Award, named after the incredible Becky Hammon, is a true honor. Becky was a superstar during her time at Colorado State, leading the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999. She then went on to have an amazing career in the WNBA, becoming a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. But her journey didn’t stop there. Becky made history by becoming the second female coach in NBA history, coaching for the San Antonio Spurs. She’s a trailblazer and an inspiration to all aspiring female athletes and coaches.
So, let’s give a round of applause to McKenna Hofschild, Desi-Rae Young, and Allyson Fertig for their outstanding achievements and for representing the Mountain West Conference with pride. These ladies are true stars on and off the court, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the future!