The Women's Final Four's Most Outstanding Player has been awarded every tournament going back to 1982. From Cheryl Miller in the early years to UConn's Diana Taurasi and South Carolina's A'ja Wilson, many big-name players have earned the honor.
Find a list of all of the Most Outstanding Player winners below for each women's NCAA tournament.
Women's Final Four Most Outstanding Players from 1982 to present
Here is the complete history of the Women's Final Four's Most Outstanding Players:
| year | player | school |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Angel Reese | LSU |
| 2022 | Aliyah Boston | South Carolina |
| 2021 | Haley Jones | Stanford |
| 2019 | Chloe Jackson | Baylor |
| 2018 | Arike Ogunbowale | Notre Dame |
| 2017 | A'ja Wilson | South Carolina |
| 2016 | Breanna Stewart | Connecticut |
| 2015 | Breanna Stewart | Connecticut |
| 2014 | Breanna Stewart | Connecticut |
| 2013 | Breanna Stewart | Connecticut |
| 2012 | Brittney Griner | Baylor |
| 2011 | Danielle Adams | Texas A&M |
| 2010 | Maya Moore | Connecticut |
| 2009 | Tina Charles | Connecticut |
| 2008 | Candace Parker | Tennessee |
| 2007 | Candace Parker | Tennessee |
| 2006 | Laura Harper | Maryland |
| 2005 | Sophia Young | Baylor |
| 2004 | Diana Taurasi | Connecticut |
| 2003 | Diana Taurasi | Connecticut |
| 2002 | Swin Cash | Connecticut |
| 2001 | Ruth Riley | Notre Dame |
| 2000 | Shea Ralph | Connecticut |
| 1999 | Ukari Figgs | Purdue |
| 1998 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Tennessee |
| 1997 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Tennessee |
| 1996 | Michelle Marciniak | Tennessee |
| 1995 | Rebecca Lobo | Connecticut |
| 1994 | Charlotte Smith | North Carolina |
| 1993 | Sheryl Swoopes | Texas Tech |
| 1992 | Molly Goodenbour | Stanford |
| 1991 | Dawn Staley | Virginia |
| 1990 | Jennifer Azzi | Stanford |
| 1989 | Bridgette Gordon | Tennessee |
| 1988 | Erica Westbrooks | Louisiana Tech |
| 1987 | Tonya Edwards | Tennessee |
| 1986 | Clarissa Davis | Texas |
| 1985 | Tracy Claxton | Old Dominion |
| 1984 | Cheryl Miller | Southern Cal |
| 1983 | Cheryl Miller | Southern Cal |
| 1982 | Janice Lawrence | Louisiana Tech |
2023: Angel Reese — LSU
Angel Reese averaged 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds throughout LSU’s 2023 March Madness run. Reese became the first SEC player to record 30 points and 15 rebounds in an NCAA tournament game. She also notched a 20/20 game with 25 points and 24 rebounds in the Tigers’ second round matchup.
2022: Aliyah Boston — South Carolina
Aliyah Boston averaged 16.8 points and 13.3 rebounds during South Carolina’s 2022 national championship run. In the Final Four, Boston averaged 17 points, 17 rebounds 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks. Boston scored all every South Carolina point in the fourth quarter of the Gamecocks’ Sweet 16 matchup.
2021: Haley Jones — Stanford
Haley Jones averaged 14 points throughout Stanford’s 2021 tournament run, and turned it up a notch in the Final Four with 20.5 points. Jones also shot an efficient 67% in the national semifinals and championship game. She scored seven of the Cardinal's fourth-quarter points in a tightly contested game won by a single point.
2019: Chloe Jackson — Baylor
Chloe Jackson sealed the MOP award in the championship game with 26 points including two clinching buckets in the final seconds. Throughout the tournament Jackson didn’t score the most points for Baylor, but she came through when it mattered in a title game decided by one point.
2018: Arike Ogunbowale — Notre Dame
Arike Ogunbowale completed one of the most legendary Final Four runs. Ogunbowale hit unbelievable game-winning threes in the semifinals and national championship. She averaged 24.2 points during the March Madness and 22.5 in the Final Four. In the title game, she struggled shooting with just 21% from the field, but still made the tough fall-away three for the win.
2019: Aj'a Wilson — South Carolina
Aj’a Wilson recorded 19.2 points and 8.8 rebounds on 59.4% shooting in the 2017 NCAA tournament. Wilson scored 23 points and 10 rebounds in the national championship game, she was the only player to score more than 20 points on both teams. She also recorded a career-high 19 rebounds in the semifinals.
2013-16: Breanna Stewart — UConn
Breanna Stewart is the only DI basketball player to win four straight MOP awards during UConn’s unprecedented four-peat. Stewart averaged 22.8 points throughout those four consecutive Final Four appearances scoring the most (29) in her freshman season. In 2013 Stewart scored 52 points in the Final Four — the ninth most in history.
2012: Brittney Griner — Baylor
Brittney Griner averaged 22.7 points throughout Baylor’s 2012 national championship run. The 136 total points are the 14th most in tournament history. Griner scored 26 points and 13 rebounds to seal the title. She also became the second woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game.
2011: Danielle Adams — Texas A&M
Danielle Adams helped propel Texas A&M to win its sole women’s basketball national championship so far in 2011. Adams averaged 20.2 points in the tournament scoring more than 15 in all but one game. In the title game, Adams recorded 30 points which is tied for the third most in championship history.
2010: Maya Moore — UConn
Maya Moore took home the MOP in her second straight national championship with UConn. Moore averaged 28.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Final Four. She scored 34 points in the national semifinal matchup for the sixth most in semifinal history while her 57 total points in both games sit third in the record books.
2009: Tina Charles — UConn
Tina Charles led UConn to three Final Fours and won the MOP award in 2009. Charles scored 25 points on 11 of 13 from the field while racking up 19 rebounds in the championship game. That rebound mark was the second most in any title game.
2007-08: Candace Parker — Tennessee
In back-to-back titles, Candace Parker took home MOP honors in both years. Parker is one of just four women in history to win the award in consecutive years. During both Final Fours, she averaged 12.8 points and 11 rebounds.
2006: Laura Harper — Maryland
Laura Harper led Maryland to its first and only national championship so far in 2006. All while she was just a season removed from an Achilles rupture. Harper scored a career-high 24 points in the semifinals, then followed it up with a 16-point performance in the overtime win in the title game.
2005: Sophia Young — Baylor
Sophia Young took Baylor to its first of three national championships in 2005 in her junior season. Young scored over 20 points in both Final Four matchups. First she recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds and four steals in the semifinals; then followed it up with 26 points and nine rebounds in the championship game.
2003-04: Diana Taurasi — UConn
Diana Taurasi won back-to-back MOP honors leading UConn to its second and third straight national title from 2003-04. Taurasi averaged 27 and 17.5 points, respectively, in the two Final Four runs. In true Taurasi style, she shot nearly 38% from the three in the two championship runs; her 2003 Final Four of eight 3-pointers ties for second in history.
2002: Swin Cash — UConn
Swin Cash took MOP honors in UConn’s 2002 championship alongside legends Taurasi and Sue Bird. Cash had an outstanding title game with 20 points, 13 rebounds and two steals while shooting 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. That performance followed a well-rounded one in the semifinals where she recorded 13 points, five assists, four blocks and four rebounds.
2001: Ruth Riley — Notre Dame
Ruth Riley took Notre Dame to its first Final Four and championship in 2001. Riley averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds in the national semifinals and championship. She recorded an iconic stat line of 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks in the title game. Her total 12 blocks in the Final Four is the most all-time.
2000: Shea Ralph — UConn
Shea Ralph lifted UConn to its second national championship and won MOP in 2000. Ralph scored 15 points on 87.5% shooting from the field while recording seven rebounds and six steals in the national title game. Her six steals tie for second in championship game history.
1999: Ukari Figgs — Purdue
Ukari Figgs led Purdue to its sole basketball national championship. Purdue is the only Big Ten representative to win a women’s basketball title game. Figgs averaged 21 points in the Final Four, 24 in the semifinals and 18 in the championship. Her 18 points in the title game all came in the second half.
1997-98: Chamique Holdsclaw — Tennessee
Chamique Holdsclaw was the second player to win back-to-back MOP awards as Tennessee won three straight championships. Holdsclaw averaged 25.8 points during the two Final Fours. In her first semifinal appearance, Holdsclaw recorded 31 points with four steals. In 1998, she notched back-to-back double-doubles with more than 20 points.
1996: Michelle Marciniak — Tennessee
Michelle Marciniak won MOP at the start of Tennessee’s three-peat. Marciniak put up 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals on 62.5% from the field in the national semifinals. Then she recorded 10 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals in the championship win.
1995: Rebecca Lobo — UConn
Rebecca Lobo took UConn to its first ever national championship in program history. Lobo scored 17 in both the semifinals and title game on a combined 52.6% shooting from the field. Lobo helped take the Huskies to their first of seven undefeated seasons.
1994: Charlotte Smith — North Carolina
Charlotte Smith could have won the MOP award based on her game-winning three with 0.7 left on the clock to give North Carolina its first championship, but her numbers may be even more impressive. Smith averaged 21.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in the Final Four. In the championship game, she notched a 20/20 game with 20 points and 23 rebounds — the only most outstanding player to do so.
1993: Sheryl Swoopes — Texas Tech
Sheryl Swoopes set several records during the Final Four that put Texas Tech in the championship record book for the first time. Swoopes averaged 39 points on 56.3% shooting in both semifinals and the championship. Her 47 points are the most in any Final Four game. She also set the record for most made field goals (16) and most points in a half (24).
1992: Molly Goodenbour — Stanford
Molly Goodenbour helped Stanford won its second championship in two years. Goodenbour scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, in the Final Four. In the semifinals, she hit 4-of-7 from the 3-point line while recording five steals and six assists.
1991: Dawn Staley — Virginia
Dawn Staley is the only player to win MOP on the losing team as Virginia fell to Tennessee in 1991. Staley scored 28 points — including 3-of-5 from the arc — along with 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals in the championship game. The 28-point total is tied for fourth-most in a championship game.
1990: Jennifer Azzi — Stanford
Jennifer Azzi led Stanford to its first national championship in program history. Azzi averaged 16 points, 15 and 17, in the two games. She especially excelled from three shooting 53.8% making a combined seven 3-pointers.
1989: Bridgette Gordon — Tennessee
Bridgette Gordon lifted Tennessee to its second national title. Gordon scored 24 points, eight rebounds and three steals in the semifinals. Then she followed it up with an even bigger performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds while making 5-of-6 free throws.
1988: Erica Westbrooks — Louisiana Tech
Erica Westbrooks helped Louisiana Tech to its second and most recent national championship. Westbrooks averaged 21.5 points in the Final Four. In the championship game, she recorded 25 points, seven rebounds and six steals. The six steals stat ties for second-most in a championship game.
1987: Tonya Edwards — Tennessee
Tonya Edwards was the third and most recent player to win the MOP award as a freshman after taking Tennessee to its first of eight national championships in program history. Edwards 17 points in the Final Four with her best performance coming in the semifinals. She scored 21 points and seven rebounds while converting 11-of-13 free throws to push the Lady Vols to the championship.
1986: Clarissa Davis — Texas
Clarissa Davis moved Texas to its first and only national championship so far. Davis scored 32 points, 18 rebounds, four steals and four blocks in the semifinals. In the title game, she recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds on 9-of-14 shooting. Davis did all that as a freshman, just the second to earn MOP honors.
1985: Tracy Claxton — Old Dominion
Tracy Claxton led Old Dominion to its only national championship so far in 1985. Claxton scored 11 and 17 in the semifinals and championship, but her rebounding was most impactful. Claxton recorded 17 and 20 rebounds, respectively, while also notching four blocks and two steals in the semifinals.
1983-84: Cheryl Miller — Southern California
Cheryl Miller is the first player to win consecutive MOP awards as she took Southern California back-to-back championships. As a freshman, she won the first go-around averaging 21.5 points in the 1983 Final Four. Miller recorded 16 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals in the semifinals; then she scored 27 points while picking up four steals and four blocks. In the second year, Miller scored 22 points, 10 rebounds and four steals in the semifinals; then followed it up with 16 points, seven assists with two blocks and steals.
1982: Janice Lawrence — Louisiana Tech
Janice Lawrence won the first-ever MOP as Louisiana Tech took home the inaugural NCAA women’s basketball national championship. Lawrence scored 15 points in the national semifinals and 20 points in the championship game. She was efficient with her scoring averaging 60% from the field in both games.
