Indiana women’s basketball center Mackenzie Holmes named finalist for Lisa Leslie Award

Indiana women’s basketball center Mackenzie Holmes has been announced as one of the finalists for the Lisa Leslie Award.

The award is given to the top center in the country. Holmes is one of five players who made the list.

The Maine native is averaging 21.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and is shooting 66.6 percent from the floor this season. Holmes was also a finalist for the award last season.

Earlier this season Holmes surpassed Tyra Buss as the Indiana women’s basketball all-time leading scorer. She became the program’s all-time winningest player following IU’s win over Iowa last week.

Below is the full release from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Indiana women’s basketball program.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes has been announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as a Top 5 finalist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award, which honors the nation’s top center.

The Gorham, Maine native repeats as a Top 5 selection for the award for the second-straight season. She is averaging a team-high 21.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and shooting 66.6 percent from the floor in 27 games for Indiana this season. Holmes has scored in double figures in 26 of 27 games, including the last 25-straight, as she also averages 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. She has a team-high six double-doubles and has led the team in scoring 16 times.

She has also appeared on a variety of other player of the year watch lists this season including 2024 Wooden Award late season Top 20, 2024 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy midseason team, 2024 Wade Trophy watch list and 2024 Ann Meyers Drysdale USWBA National Player of the Year watch list.

Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.

The five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.

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