PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The American Athletic Conference announced its annual women's basketball awards to cap the 2017-18 regular season and kick off the Aaron's American Women's Basketball Championship at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. March 3-6.
UConn senior Kia Nurse has been selected as the Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Azurá Stevens earned both Sixth Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year accolades. Temple senior Tanaya Atkinson was named the Most Improved Player of the Year, while SMU's McKenzie Adams earned the conference's Ambassador Award.
Nurse has spearheaded The American's most dominant defense, as UConn led the conference in scoring defense (52.