The John R.
The John R. Wooden Award will celebrate it's 50th anniversary this season. Leading up to the award ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune in partnership with the Wooden Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club will highlight past winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award.
Some may say Seimone Augustus was in a league of her own because of her own special brand of characteristics she brought to women's basketball.
Augustus, who won the Wooden Award in 2005 and 2006, combined historic production, a magnetic presence and championship-level impact in a way women’s college basketball had rarely seen before.
Augustus, who starred at LSU from 2002-2006, wasn’t just the Tigers' best player; she was the nation's top player for multiple seasons.
Augustus scored 2,702 career points, which still ranks among the top scorers in NCAA history, averaged nearly 24 points per game over her career, and was a threat from anywhere on the court.
The two-time SEC Player of the Year could score from everywhere, be it pull-up jumpers, post-ups, in transition, off the bounce or off the catch. Most importantly, she could take over games without forcing shots, which is rare at any level.
Winning one Wooden Award is obviously elite in its own right, let alone twice, but Augustus also won the Naismith Player of the Year and Wade Trophy two times.
LSU was a solid program before Augustus' arrival, but once she arrived, the Tigers transitioned into a national powerhouse, became a regular Final Four contender and etched its way into the center of women's basketball attention.
Augustus led LSU to three Final Fours, including back-to-back appearances, turning the program into a destination for future recruits.
Her knack for playing big in the biggest moments set her apart, as her clutch gene could always be found in NCAA Tournament. And it wasn't just her offense, as Augustus never shied away from taking on the toughest defensive assignments and certainly never wilted under pressure.
The fact is, opponents were forced to gameplan around stopping her, and usually couldn’t.
As with greats before her, Augustus had an undeniable presence, as she emitted confidence without arrogance. Her joy for basketball was evident through the creativity and swagger she brought to the floor.
There was always a sense she was meant to be the best player in the gym, but she also allowed her teammates to shine around her, as they played freer.
Augustus was the first overall draft pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, and played 14 seasons for the Minnesota Lynx before finishing her career with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Augustus won four WNBA titles, all with Minnesota, was the 2011 Finals MVP, and was an eight-time WNBA All-Star.
Off the court, Augustus was one of the first women’s college stars to be highlighted in the mainstream, appearing in national commercials, having a signature shoe, and becoming a fixture on TVs across America. Long before the names being credited for bringing the spotlight to women's college basketball now, it was Augustus who helped push the sport into the spotlight it's enjoying today.
Fact is, you cannot talk about women's basketball without talking about Seimone Augustus, who wasn’t just great statistically, she was transformational in that she elevated her program, dominated her era, carried herself like a superstar and left the game bigger than she found it.
If you stack college careers, hers belongs firmly in the short list of the greatest ever, regardless of era or gender.
Category: General Sports
