Mitchell named first-team All-American

Tiffany Mitchell continued to add to her impressive trophy case on Tuesday when she was named South Carolina’s first Associated Press first-team All-American.

Mitchell, the two-time SEC Player of the Year who carried the Gamecocks to two wins in the Greensboro Regional and the team’s first Final Four berth, joined past and future opponents on the first team. Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart made the list along with Notre Dame’s Jewell Loyd, who Mitchell and USC will face on Sunday in the first national semifinal. Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. and Baylor’s Nina Davis were the other selections.

Mitchell received 27 of 35 votes for the first team. Stewart and Loyd were unanimous selections.

Mitchell is averaging 14.3 points and 3.0 rebounds this season and was the third-highest vote-getter behind Stewart and Loyd. A third-team AP All-American last year, Mitchell has scored 39 points in the past two games and handled the ball on nearly every crucial possession in regional wins against North Carolina and Florida State.

“Just made plays for my team when I needed to,” Mitchell said after the game against FSU.

Mitchell, with one more year of eligibility, is making a case as the most decorated player in USC history. Sheila Foster has her retired jersey hanging in the rafters at Colonial Life Arena and remains the program’s career leading scorer and rebounder, and was a two-time All-American by three services in 1981 and 1982. Mitchell might not challenge Foster’s records, but should wind up with a few more accolades before she’s done.

Mitchell was a member of the SEC’s All-Freshman team in 2013 and was SEC first-team and All-Defensive in 2014. Voted the best player in the league for two consecutive seasons, Mitchell should enter 2015-16 as the preseason pick for a third honor. She was a finalist for the Wade Trophy last year and is a finalist for the Wooden Award this year.

“We’re going to go to Tiffany Mitchell for as long as she can run up and down the floor,” coach Dawn Staley said after the win against FSU.

USC freshman A’ja Wilson was named third-team All-American, while Aleighsa Welch received honorable mention for the second consecutive year.

Wilson is averaging 13 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Year.

The Associated Press will announce its Player and Coach of the Year awards on Saturday. Mitchell and Staley are finalists. Mitchell will attend a ceremony in Los Angeles on April 10, where the All-American team will be recognized and the Wooden Award winner will be announced.

Stewart, UConn’s Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Loyd and Davis are also finalists for the Wooden Award.

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This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Mitchell named first-team All-American."