UConn’s senior guard Paige Bueckers (+175) and USC’s sophomore guard JuJu Watkins (+225) are two of the biggest names in women’s college basketball, but another star is leading both of them on the current Wooden Award odds board at BetMGM. Notre Dame’s sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo (+125) is the current leader in the market. Let’s take a look at each player’s stats and identify the best bet to take home the nation’s top individual honor.
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame (+125): Leading the No. 3 Fighting Irish to a 10-2 start, Hidalgo is averaging 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a ridiculous 4.3 steals per contest. (She ranks 2nd in the NCAA in scoring and first in steals.) Last year as a true freshman, Hidalgo posted 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.6 steals per contest and is putting up the numbers of a generational prospect on both sides of the ball. Last year, she was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the second teenager ever to win that award, and set numerous program records. With Caitlin Clark gone from the college game, the path is clear for Hidalgo to win this award not only this season, but for the next couple as well. If she maintains these numbers through conference play (with five more currently-ranked opponents on her schedule), she will win it.
Paige Bueckers, UConn (+175): Bueckers is putting up solid numbers for the No. 7 Huskies (10-2), averaging 20.8 points on a career-best 56.3% shooting with 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Playing for an annual contender like UConn will keep Bueckers relevant and in this race throughout the season and she’s shown that she can take over when her game is on. Based on past injuries, this is a bit riskier of a bet to make than Hidalgo or Watkins and it’s also worth mentioning that Watkins and USC came into Connecticut and beat her and the Huskies on the weekend before Christmas. Although I’m a UConn fan, I’d list her as the third-best bet when factoring in price and the likelihood of winning the award. She does have household name recognition, but will need to dominate Big East play (no ranked opponents) and in her two remaining tests against No. 15 Tennessee and No. 2 South Carolina, both on the road.
JuJu Watkins, USC (+225): Leading No. 4 USC to that huge win at UConn and an 11-1 start, Watkins is putting up 24.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.0 blocks per contest so far. Moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, the quality of Watkins’ opponents will be better and she has six more currently-ranked opponents on her schedule moving forward. Last year, she averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game as a true freshman and I expect her game to be on full display in conference play. She will have the chance to deliver marquee wins, which should boost her resume, and this is the best bet on the board, in my opinion.
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