Duke women's basketball's Okananwa wins ACC Sixth Player of the Year, Richardson named to ACC Second Team

After a strong season that exceeded the expectations of many, two Blue Devils have been rewarded for their hard work. 

Junior guard Reigan Richardson was named to the All-ACC Second Team, and freshman and fellow backcourt member Oluchi Okananwa was selected as both the Sixth Player of the Year and named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. The awards were announced Thursday afternoon on ACC Network. The players were selected by a panel of ACC coaches and select media that cover the conference.

It was a strong year for both players, who excelled on a Duke team that went 19-10 overall in the regular season and 11-7 in a stacked conference. This is the first ACC award that either player has received, as Richardson became the 38th player in program history named to an All-ACC team. She has started every game this season, averaging 11.9 points per game and shooting 43% from the field. A veteran member of the team, Richardson has been a key piece to one of the best defenses in not only the conference but the country, averaging just over one steal per game and proving to be a versatile player at both ends of the floor.

For Okananwa, it was a stellar first season of college ball. A scrappy guard known for her energy and pace, she often provided a spark off the bench for a Blue Devil squad that needed it. A talented rebounder despite her 5-foot-10 frame, the Boston native averaged 21.2 minutes per game this season and frequently found herself matched up against some of the best guards in the conference. In the end, Okananwa averaged 6.1 rebounds and 9.6 points per game. Her recognition was the first time since the award’s inception in 2008 that a Blue Devil has received the award.

Now with the regular-season awards under their belt, the Blue Devils will look to the postseason. Duke begins its journey Thursday in the ACC tournament before moving onto a likely appearance in the Big Dance in a few weeks.  

Martin Heintzelman

Martin Heintzelman is a Trinity junior and Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.