Women's Basketball

Gonzaga Freshman Lauren Whittaker Named Semifinalist For Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award

Whittaker is one of just two freshmen to be named a semifinalist in the award’s history

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Gonzaga redshirt freshman Lauren Whittaker has been named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats.
 
Whittaker, the only freshman among the award’s 10 semifinalists this season, is one of just two freshmen to be named a semifinalist in the award’s history. Meghan Andersen of Fairfield was recognized among the award’s semifinalists as a freshman in 2024. A freshman has never won the award.
 
Joining Whittaker on the list of semifinalists is Taylee Chirrick (Montan State), Maggie Doogan (Richmond), Avery Koenen (North Dakota State), Kaety L’Amoreaux (Fairfield), Brooklyn Meyer (South Dakota State), Mia Nicastro (Western Illinois), Nikola Priede (Vermont), Adrianna Smith (Maine) and Hannah Wickstrom (UC Riverside).
 
The five finalists for the award will be announced in early March, with the winner announced around the Final Four.
 
Whittaker leads the West Coast Conference in scoring (19.1 ppg), rebounding (10.1 rpg) and field goal percentage (.549). She leads all freshmen nationally and is tied for 15th overall with 13 double-doubles on the season. Whittaker is 21st nationally in total points (517) and 26th in the country in points per game. The forward is 13th nationally in total rebounds (273) and 23rd in the country in rebounds per game. Whittaker also ranks 14th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (7.9), 20th in field goals made (192) and 29th in field goal percentage.
 
Whittaker, who was recognized in November as a Kay Yow Servant Leader, ranks in the top three among freshmen nationally in nine categories. Along with double-doubles, she ranks first nationally among freshmen in field goal percentage. The forward ranks second among freshmen nationally in points, points per game, rebounds, defensive rebounds per game and field goals made. She is third among freshmen nationally in free throws made and defensive rebounds.
 
Whittaker has been named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week 11 times this season. She owns 12 conference weekly awards overall, also earning West Coast Conference Player of the Week honors on Dec. 22. Whittaker was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week on Dec. 23.
 
Gonzaga’s Yvonne Ejim was the recipient of the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award in 2024 and was a finalist last season. Gonzaga is tied with FGCU for the most semifinalists in the award’s history with four.
 
Whittaker has helped lead Gonzaga (19-8, 11-3) to a tie for first place in the conference standings with LMU. The Zags host Washington State on Thursday (Feb. 19) in Spokane.