Women's Basketball | 10/28/2024 2:50:00 PM
                
                
                SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- Norfolk State graduate point guard Diamond Johnson landed on the 2025 Preseason Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watchlist
, announced by Naismith Starting Five on Monday afternoon.
 
The Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I basketball. To be considered for the award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking, and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Liberman.  
 
Johnson averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 steals, and 2.9 assists per game last season, earning MEAC Newcomer of the Year, MEAC First-Team, MEAC-Defensive, BOXTROW Impact Award, and BOXTROW HBCU All-America First team honors.
 
This is the fourth preseason honor Johnson has picked up this season (MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, All-MEAC First Team, and 2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watchlist).
 
Johnson is one of two mid-major players named to the Nancy Liberman Point Guard of the Year Watchlist this season, and the only selection from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
 
 
Preseason Watchlist for 2025 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year 
 
	
		
			| Player | School | 
		
			| Paige Bueckers | UConn | 
		
			| Te-Hina PaoPao | South Carolina | 
		
			| Olivia Miles | Notre Dame | 
		
			| Kiki Rice | UCLA | 
		
			| Serena Sundell | Kansas State | 
		
			| Georgia Amoore | Kentucky | 
		
			| Raven Johnson | South Carolina | 
		
			| Emily Ryan | Iowas State | 
		
			| Talia von Oelhoffen | USC | 
		
			| Rori Hamon | Texas | 
		
			| Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame | 
		
			| Jordan Harrison | West Virginia | 
		
			| Lucy Olsen | Iowa | 
		
			| Diamond Johnson | Norfolk State | 
		
			| Katie Dinnebier | Drake | 
		
			| Ines Viera | Utah | 
		
			| Charlisse Leger-Walker | UCLA | 
		
			| Makira Cook | Illinois | 
		
			| Deja Kelly | Oregon | 
		
			| Taina Mair | Duke | 
	
 
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