Dinnebier Recognized as Mid-Major Player of the Year Finalist

Sports

March 6th, 2025 by Christian Adams

HOPEWELL, N.J. – Drake’s Katie Dinnebier was named one of five finalists for the 2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award, Her Hoop Stats announced today. Dinnebier’s inclusion marks the second straight year that she has been named a finalist for this esteemed honor.

Dinnebier has had a remarkable season for the Bulldogs averaging 22.2 points, 7.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 steals. She ranks ninth in the country in scoring and leads the nation in distributions per game. Her combination of volume scoring and frequent facilitating for her teammates puts her in rare air. Since 2009-10, only one other player has averaged at least 20 points and 7.5 assists per game: Caitlin Clark, who did so three times. Add in Dinnebier’s steals, and she is the only player to average at least 22 points, 7.5 assists and two steals per game since assists became officially tracked in 1985-86.

The Waukee graduate has scored 30-plus points on nine separate occasions, which is also tops in the country, including a pair of 40-point outings. Her eight MVC Player of the Week nods are by far the most by any individual in the league this season.

 

2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Finalists

Katie Dinnebier Sr. Guard Drake 22.2 ppg / 7.5 apg / 4.4 rpg / 2.4 spg
Megan McConnell Sr. Guard Duquesne 18.8 ppg / 7.1 rpg / 5.2 apg / 3.9 spg
Yvonne Ejim 5th Forward Gonzaga 21.1 ppg / 8.8 rpg / 2.4 apg / 1.2 spg
Harmoni Turner Sr. Guard Harvard 21.0 ppg / 5.4 rpg / 3.3 apg / 3.0 spg
Laura Ziegler Jr. Forward Saint Joseph’s 18.1 ppg / 10.8 rpg / 4.2 apg / 1.0 bpg

The finalists represent five teams and four conferences, featuring three first-time finalists. Ejim earns her third finalist nod, becoming the first three-time finalist in the award’s six-year history. She won the Mid-Major Player of the Year title last season. Harmoni Turner becomes the fourth different Ivy League player to be named a finalist, surpassing the Summit League and WCC for the most in the award’s history.

To be eligible for this award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be “mid-major.” The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, and SEC. Additionally, players from Oregon State and Washington State are ineligible this year as membership in the Pac-12 Conference evolves.

The 25-player preseason watch list was announced in October, and 15 midseason watch list members were announced in January. The 10 semifinalists were announced in February, with the winner scheduled to be announced on April 2. The list is fluid, and players may play their way on or off it over the course of the season.