MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 11, 2025) – Senior guard JJ Quinerly of the West Virginia women's basketball has been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, announced Monday afternoon by Naismith Awards.
The elite group of names includes just 10 players from across the country. Quinerly is one of two selections from the Big 12, alongside TCU’s Sedona Prince. The honor marks the second straight season Quinerly has been featured on the list.
A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Quinerly averages 2.97 steals per game and has recorded 89 steals this season. Both marks are the second-best in the Big 12 Conference and rank No. 13 in the nation. Her 89 steals are 25 off the WVU program single season record of 114.
This season, Quinerly has produced 17 games with three or more steals and adds a game-high of eight.
Her efforts have helped the Mountaineers to the best scoring defense (55.5) in the conference. Quinerly has spearheaded a defensive attack that averages 13.6 steals and 23.7 turnovers forced per game. The marks are the best in the Big 12 Conference and the third and sixth best marks in the nation this season.
In 124 collegiate appearances, Quinerly already ranks No. 3 in WVU history with 320 steals, while her 2.6 steals per game ranks fifth.
2025 Naismith Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists:
Lauren Betts - UCLA
Talaysia Cooper - Tennessee
Rori Harmon - Texas
Hannah Hidalgo - Notre Dame
Aneesah Morrow - LSU
Sedona Prince - TCU
JJ Quinerly - West Virginia
Taylor Thierry - Ohio State
Makayla Timpson - Florida State
JuJu Watkins - USC
The elite group of names includes just 10 players from across the country. Quinerly is one of two selections from the Big 12, alongside TCU’s Sedona Prince. The honor marks the second straight season Quinerly has been featured on the list.
A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Quinerly averages 2.97 steals per game and has recorded 89 steals this season. Both marks are the second-best in the Big 12 Conference and rank No. 13 in the nation. Her 89 steals are 25 off the WVU program single season record of 114.
This season, Quinerly has produced 17 games with three or more steals and adds a game-high of eight.
Her efforts have helped the Mountaineers to the best scoring defense (55.5) in the conference. Quinerly has spearheaded a defensive attack that averages 13.6 steals and 23.7 turnovers forced per game. The marks are the best in the Big 12 Conference and the third and sixth best marks in the nation this season.
In 124 collegiate appearances, Quinerly already ranks No. 3 in WVU history with 320 steals, while her 2.6 steals per game ranks fifth.
2025 Naismith Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists:
Lauren Betts - UCLA
Talaysia Cooper - Tennessee
Rori Harmon - Texas
Hannah Hidalgo - Notre Dame
Aneesah Morrow - LSU
Sedona Prince - TCU
JJ Quinerly - West Virginia
Taylor Thierry - Ohio State
Makayla Timpson - Florida State
JuJu Watkins - USC
