Alyssa Ustby represents UNC women's basketball as Cheryl Miller Award finalist

On Wednesday, the five finalists for the 2024 Cheryl Miller Award were announced.

The award is presented annually to the nation's best small forward. When the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame released the list of finalists, it wasn't a surprise to see a very familiar name on the list.

Alyssa Ustby is among this year's finalists, as the UNC women's basketball program's star forward is joined by LSU's Aneesah Morrow, Ohio State's Cotie McMahon, Tennessee's Rickea Jackson and Texas' Madison Booker on the list.

This marks the third season that Ustby has been a candidate for the Cheryl Miller Award , as she has been in the top 10 in each of the past two years. This year, Ustby's hard work and dedication paid off, as she'll be a finalist for the first time for her efforts during the 2023-2024 season.

Ustby finished the regular season as one of just four players to average a double-double in ACC play. The Rochester, Minnesota native does it all for the Tar Heels, ranking in the ACC's top 10 in rebounding (fourth), field goal percentage (sixth), blocks (ninth), steals (tied tenth), and assists (tenth).

Just a day ago, Ustby earned All-ACC recognition. After finishing as a first-team All-ACC selection a year ago, Ustby earned second-team honors for the 2023-2024 season, as she was one of the obvious "snubs" that should have earned more conference recognition.

How does a player rank in the top five nationally at her position, but doesn't make first-team all-conference?! Help us make sense of that!

That's no shade at anyone who did make the first team, but Ustby arguably had her best season as a Tar Heel during her senior campaign. She became the first UNC women's basketball player EVER to record a triple-double, and consistently made winning plays for the Tar Heels throughout.

She may not have earned the rightful conference recognition that she deserves, but it's great to see that she's earning the respect on a national level, as she has put herself in the conversation among the best players in the entire country.