Women’s college basketball All-Americans 2019
This was a women’s basketball season with talent spread out all across the country, and a particularly strong senior class. Ten programs are represented on our espnW All-America first and second teams. All but one are seniors, with six post players and four guards. Voting was done by espnW’s Charlie Creme, Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel. (* Denotes unanimous pick.)
F/C Megan Gustafson*, Iowa, 6-foot-3, senior
2018-19: 28.0 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 69.6 field goal percentage
She has led Division I in scoring and field goal percentage the last two seasons. She is Iowa’s career leader in scoring (2,700) and rebounding (1,403) and also will finish in the top five in blocked shots (228). Gustafson also has the single-game scoring record for Iowa (48 points in 2018) and season scoring mark (897 and counting). Her 45-point performance in the Big Ten final gave the Hawkeyes their first league tournament title since 2001. — Mechelle Voepel
F Napheesa Collier*, UConn, 6-foot-1, senior
2018-19: 20.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.5 APG
She has quietly had one of the greatest careers in UConn history. She’s currently fourth — behind WNBA MVPs Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles — on the Huskies’ career scoring list at 2,299 points. With 48 points in the NCAA tournament, Collier would pass Charles. Collier is also fourth in career rebounds (1,153) and would pass Stewart with 27 more. — Mechelle Voepel
C Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State, 6-foot-7, senior
2018-19: 17.8 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 65.5 field goal percentage
The Bulldogs have achieved a lot of firsts during McCowan’s career, including the program’s first trip to the Final Four, first SEC regular-season title and first league tournament title. McCowan was named the SEC tournament’s most outstanding player this year as Mississippi State at last got that championship. She took over a starting role as a junior and will leave as the Bulldogs’ all-time leading rebounder (1,447) and in the top five in scoring (1,849). — Mechelle Voepel
G Sabrina Ionescu*, Oregon, 5-foot-11, junior
2018-19: 19.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 8.1 APG
As the conductor of the nation’s third-highest scoring offense, Ionescu brought the triple-double back to college basketball. Her 17 career and seven this season are NCAA records for both men and women. She is third in the country in assists, shot 42.3 percent from 3-point range, and won the Pac-12 player of the year for the second straight season. — Charlie Creme
G Asia Durr*, Louisville, 5-foot-10, senior
2018-19: 21.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 82.6 free throw percentage
No player in the country can erupt like Durr, as evidenced by the two 47-point games in her career. The two-time ACC player of the year scores from anywhere on the floor. She led the league in scoring and was fifth with a 34.7 3-point percentage, lifting the Cardinals to a share of their first regular-season ACC championship. — Charlie Creme
F Kristine Anigwe, Cal, 6-foot-4, senior
2018-19: 22.9 PPG, 16.3 RPG, 51.9 field goal percentage
Often facing double and triple teams, Anigwe still managed to put the Bears on her back and carry them to the NCAA tournament. She led the nation in rebounds by nearly three boards per game, registered the sport’s first 30-30 game in more than 15 years, and will enter the postseason with 32 consecutive double-doubles. — Charlie Creme
F Alanna Smith, Stanford, 6-foot-4, senior
2018-19: 19.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.4 BPG
One of the best all-around bigs in the country, Smith shot 51.2 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from 3-point range, while also leading the Pac-12 in blocks. The Pac-12 scholar athlete of the year and a member of the Australian national team, Smith heads into the NCAA tournament just three 3-pointers shy of joining Elena Della Donne, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart as the only players in history with 1,600 points, 200 blocks and 150 3-pointers. — Charlie Creme
C Kalani Brown, Baylor, 6-foot-7, senior
2018-19: 15.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 62.3 field goal percentage
Earlier this week, Brown won MVP honors at the Big 12 tournament for the second time, and the Lady Bears won the league tournament three times in her career. They won all four Big 12 regular-season championships with Brown. She has formed one of the country’s most formidable post duos with Lauren Cox, and Brown’s career field goal percentage (.642) is the best in Baylor history. — Mechelle Voepel
G Arike Ogunbowale, Notre Dame, 5-foot-8, senior
2018-19: 21.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 44.6 field goal percentage
Ogunbowale will forever be remembered for two buzzer-beating, game-winning shots in the Final Four to win Notre Dame its second national championship in 2018. Her senior season won’t soon be forgotten, either. A fearless offensive force, Ogunbowale led Notre Dame to its sixth ACC regular-season title and a fifth tournament crown, while becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer. — Charlie Creme
G Bridget Carleton, Iowa State, 6-foot-1, senior
2018-19: 21.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.1 APG
The first Iowa State player to win Big 12 player of the year honors, Carleton led the Cyclones this season in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, and was second in assists. A member of the Canadian national team, she helped Iowa State rebound from missing the NCAA tournament last year to being 25-8, runner-up in the Big 12 tournament, and a likely NCAA top 16 seed this season. — Mechelle Voepel
Also receiving votes: Lauren Cox, Baylor; Sophie Cunningham, Missouri