Dyaisha Fair named to Naismith Player of the Year Watch List

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Syracuse point guard Dyaisha Fair has been named to the Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Watch List, SU Athletics announced Monday. Fair also made the watch list last season. She is second among all active players in total points with 2,691, only behind Caitlin Clark (2,717) — last year’s Naismith winner.

During her first season with the Orange, Fair averaged 19.9 points per game and 2.4 steals per game, earning First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-ACC Defensive Team honors. She led SU in the majority of offensive statistical categories, including points, assists (138) and 3-pointers made (88), starting in all 33 of its contests. 

Despite testing WNBA Draft waters, Fair opted to return to Syracuse for her final year of eligibility. It’s her fifth season playing under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, as the two were in Buffalo during Fair’s first three collegiate seasons. Over the offseason, Fair refined her game as a defender, which Legette-Jack has highlighted as SU’s weakness and most pressing aspect to improve on. She’s set to lead a new and improved Syracuse squad, along with fellow Buffalo transfer Georgia Woolley and freshmen Alyssa Latham and Sophie Burrows.

In her three years at Buffalo, Fair earned a multitude of accolades. She was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 22.0 points per game, which was fourth-best in the nation. In her sophomore and junior years, she earned First Team All-MAC honors in each campaign.