North Carolina State University Athletics
James Named a USBWA National Player of the Week
1/21/2025 10:41:00 AM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS – NC State women's basketball team's senior guard Aziaha James has been tabbed an Ann Meyers Drysdale National National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, as announced on Tuesday. James is one of five honorees.
James averaged 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game across NC State's 2-0 week that featured wins over Pitt (W, 83-67) and Virginia (W, 73-68). This marks the second straight season NC State has had a USBWA National Player of the Week honoree after Madison Hayes earned the award last season.
The Virginia Beach, Virginia native started out the week with a team-high 22 points off 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc against Pitt. With her six 3-pointers, she was one shy of tying her career-high of seven she tallied over Texas in the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 last season. She also had four assists against the Panthers.
James came through with another 20-point game to close out the week vs. Virginia. Her 20 points led the Pack once again and she hit two key free throws with eight seconds left in the game to pull the Pack ahead by three, which helped lead the team to an eventual win. She played all 40 minutes, the first time this season.
James leads the Pack with 17.2 points per game, which is top 10 in the ACC, with 40 3-pointers. She has eight 20-point games, the fifth most in the league, and surpassed 1,000 career points against Kent State, now sitting at No. 27 on the all-time scoring list at NC State with 1,271 points. James is also 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 25 Midseason Watch List recipient, one of four in the ACC.
The USBWA was formed in 1956, and has over 900 members worldwide, as it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. The USBWA has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season.
NC State will hit the road to face Syracuse on Thursday, Jan. 23. That game will tipoff at 6 p.m. on ACC Network at the JMA Wireless Dome.
USBWA Weekly Honorees (week ending Jan. 19)
Players of the Week
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
Aziaha James, NC State
Rachel Ullstrom, Richmond
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Freshman of the Week
Britt Prince, Nebraska
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Team of the Week
South Carolina
