ATLANTA – UConn women's basketball freshman Paige Bueckers was named one of four finalists for the 2021 Naismith Women's Trophy, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Thursday.

Bueckers was named an AP First Team All-American on Wednesday. The Hopkins, Minn., native was the first player to be named BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year and the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Bueckers holds the UConn freshman record with 146 assists this season. She leads UConn with 19.7 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game as well as a 47.4 three-point field goal percentage.

The finalists emerged from a group of 10 semifinalists and were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding on-court performances during the 2020-21 regular college basketball season. The next round of voting runs from March 19-31, with the winner being announced live on CBS Sports Network's NCAA® March Madness 360 studio show on April 3.

The other finalists for the Naismith are Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Dana Evans (Louisville) and Rhyne Howard (Kentucky).

Once again, fans will have a say in who wins the top honor by participating in the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike's. By visiting naismithfanvote.com from March 19-31, fans will have the opportunity to cast a ballot daily for the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for the Men's and Women's College Player of the Year and the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year awards. There also will be opportunities to vote for your favorite women's player on the @NaismithTrophy Twitter page. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall vote.

The Huskies (24-1) begin NCAA Tournament against High Point (22-6) Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN in the Alamodome.