LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky guard Chasity Patterson has been named one of 15 players on the watch list for the Naismith Defensive Player of the year award.
The senior from Houston has started all 15 games for the Wildcats and leads the nation in steals with 60. One of Patterson's best games came against Wofford on December 19th when she scored 17 points and had 10 steals. That made her just the second player in program history to get 10 or more steals in a game. Leslie Nichols has the record set in 1986 with 11 steals against Louisville.
Patterson isn't just a thief on the court. She also averages 12 points on 46% shooting from the field, averages 2 rebounds and 3 assists per game.
Here is the entire list of players up for the Defensive Player of the Year award:
| Boston | Aliyah | Aliyah Boston | So. | F | South Carolina | SEC |
| Burton | Veronica | Veronica Burton | Jr. | G | Northwestern | Big Ten |
| Cain | Kate | Kate Cain | Sr. | C | Nebraska | Big Ten |
| Collier | Charli | Charli Collier | Jr. | F/C | Texas | Big 12 |
| Cunane | Elissa | Elissa Cunane | Jr. | C | NC State | ACC |
| Guirantes | Arella | Arella Guirantes | Sr. | G | Rutgers | Big Ten |
| Hamson | Sara | Sara Hamson | Sr. | C | BYU | WCC |
| Jones | N'dea | N'dea Jones | Sr. | F | Texas A&M | SEC |
| Mack | Natasha | Natasha Mack | Sr. | F | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
| McDonald | Aari | Aari McDonald | Sr. | G | Arizona | Pac-12 |
| Mulkey | Nancy | Nancy Mulkey | Sr. | C | Rice | C-USA |
| Nelson-Ododa | Olivia | Olivia Nelson-Ododa | Jr. | F | UConn | BIG EAST |
| Patterson | Chasity | Chasity Patterson | Sr. | G | Kentucky | SEC |
| Richards | DiDi | DiDi Richards | Sr. | G | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Stobbart | Sage | Sage Stobbart | Jr. | P | UC Davis | Big West |
