ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Delaware guard/forward Elena Delle Donne as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 8. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.

Delle Donne

As the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week, Delle Donne was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Delle Donne, a 6-5 junior from Wilmington, Del., averaged 38.5 points in two CAA wins at home over Towson and on the road at George Mason, scoring 37 and 40 points, respectively, while grabbing 15 rebounds in the win at George Mason.

She is the nation’s leading scorer with a 30.3 average, has a 10.2 rebounding average, and has led Delaware (12-1) to its first national ranking this season and best start in school history. Now totaling 1,725 points Delle Donne last week became the Blue Hen’s all-time scorer in just 63 games. Cindy Johnson’s previous mark of 1,675 points took 113 games to set.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-444-4300.

2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky (Southeastern Conference)
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor (Big 12 Conference)
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown (Big East Conference)
• Week of Jan. 8: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (Colonial Athletic Association)
• Week of Jan. 15: Brittany Rayburn, Purdue (Big Ten Conference)
• Week of Jan. 22: Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10 Conference)
• Week of Jan. 29: Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut (Big East Conference)
• Week of Feb. 5: Markeshia Grant, South Carolina (Southeastern Conference)
• Week of Feb. 12: Tianna Hawkins, Maryland (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week of Feb. 19: Shey Peddy, Temple (Atlantic 10 Conference)