Bethel’s Millie Bryant Named Honorable Mention All-American

ATLANTA, Ga. – Stephanie Soares of The Master's University is the 2022 WBCA NAIA Player of the Year and headlines the 2022 WBCA NAIA Coaches' All-America team, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today.

 The WBCA presents the Player of the Year award annually to the top player in five of the six WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, and III, NAIA, two-year college and high school). The Player of the Year and the 10-member Coaches' All-America team in each division are selected by a committee of WBCA member coaches in that division. The Wade Trophy is presented to the best player in NCAA Division I.

Bethel's Millie Bryant was named to the honorable mention team. The senior from Dresden, Tennessee finished her storied career with 1,350 career points which is eighth all-time in program history.  Bryant had 658 rebounds in her career. She finished eighth all-time in rebounding in program history. Bryant became the 10^th Lady Wildcat to score 1,000 points or more and collect five hundred rebounds or more in program history.

This past season Bryant helped lead the Wildcats to the NAIA National Championship Round of Sixteen. Bryant led Bethel in scoring averaging 13.7 points per game. She was second in rebounding averaging almost six boards per outing. Millie also led the squad with ninety-eight assists on the season.

Coach Chris Nelson commented on his player and the award. "This is a great and a well deserving honor for Millie. She has been such a steady player ever since she arrived here at Bethel and has been the heart and soul of our team the last two seasons. It was very fitting that she helped lead our program back to the NAIA Round of Sixteen this season. It says a lot in how her teammates, competitors , and peers feel about Millie Bryant. She will go down as one of the all-time greats here at Bethel.

Here are the 2022 WBCA NAIA Coaches' All-Americans:

 
"We congratulate remaining members of the 2022 WBCA NAIA Coaches' All-America team as well," said Donehew. "These young women have worked to elevate their teams and themselves to an elite level of competition. Through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have also lifted the women's game."

Here are the student-athletes who received 2022 WBCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Honorable mention:

About the WBCA

For 40 years, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association has been the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.