March 07, 2023

Senior Bella Murekatete named to the 2023 All-Pac-12 Tournament Team

LAS VEGAS — After leading No. 7 seed Washington State to its first-ever Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship, junior guard Charlisse Leger-Walker was voted the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player by the media.

Leger-Walker averaged 19 points per game as the Cougars defeated 10-seed California, 2-seed Utah, 3-seed Colorado, and 5-seed UCLA en route to the title. Her 76 points scored in the tournament are the most-ever in a Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. Leger-Walker is the first Cougar to ever be voted as the Most Outstanding Player at the Pac-12 Tournament.

The Waikato, New Zealand native scored at least 15 points in all four of Washington State’s wins and dropped 23 points against the Bruins in the finale to secure the trophy. Leger-Walker shot 7-for-11 from the field, sank five 3-pointers, and also grabbed seven rebounds in that game. By winning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor, Leger-Walker also earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 Tournament team.

Leger-Walker’s Most Outstanding Player award caps a historic run for the Cougars, who were the lowest-seeded team to ever appear in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship Game.

Senior Bella Murekatete was one of five players — not including Leger-Walker — to make the All-Tournament team. The senior post averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during the Cougars’ title run. Murekatete had a double-double in the first round with a 13-point, 12-rebound performance in the win over mover California. The Butare Huye, Rwanda native scored 21 points against UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

For more information on the Washington State women’s basketball team, follow @WSUCougarWBB on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

COURTESY WASHINGTON STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS