Myah Selland

Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup winner

Myah Selland ’22 and ’23 will go down as one of the most celebrated basketball players—male or female—in South Dakota State University’s storied history. The numbers speak for themselves. She ranks second all-time in career points, fourth in rebounding and fifth in career assists—the only student-athlete in program history to rank in the top 10 of all three categories.

But it’s what she was able to accomplish off the court that people will remember most. It’s also what earned her a prestigious national award that only goes to six athletes in the U.S. each year.

In January, Selland was named the female collegiate recipient of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, an award given to the most outstanding role models among athletes at the professional, collegiate and high school levels. With just a half-dozen distinguished recipients from any sport (one male/female from high school, college and the professional level) honored annually, she’s in an elite field that has less to do with her stats than her character.

Giving back

In 2022, Selland, a Letcher, South Dakota native, and teammate Tori Nelson were looking to find a way to give back to the community. They wanted to create a program that gives sporting opportunities to girls and young women. After teaming up with the Brookings Foundation, Selland and Nelson established Her Turn, a nonprofit program that provides girls in the Brookings community scholarships to attend SDSU athletic camps free of charge.

“Over the last several years, I have had the privilege of being Myah’s friend, teammate and roommate,” Nelson, a senior exercise science major from Heights, Minnesota, said. “However, I am most grateful for our partnership in leading Her Turn and the opportunity to make a difference in our community.”

The program has been a resounding success and is heading into its second full year this summer. With increasing donations and an omnipresent need for girls’ opportunities in sports, Selland and Nelson are hopeful they can extend Her Turn’s reach beyond South Dakota’s borders.

“Myah is a transformational leader for our program, university and community,” said Aaron Johnston ’05 (M.S.), head coach of the women’s basketball program. “Her talents and leadership within our basketball program are well documented. Her efforts away from basketball are what define Myah as a leader and advocate for young girls in our community.”

Selland, who has an exercise science degree in hand, graduated with a second degree in community and public health this spring. Her experiences working with a nonprofit have caused a shift in her future career plans.

“This has really opened up a whole other door for us that has been really rewarding,” Selland said. “This kind of work has really sparked an interest for me, and I feel that’s where I’m probably heading next after basketball.”

Creating opportunities

The rest of the country has taken notice of Selland’s exemplary citizenship with the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup.

Last fall, Megan Glover, the sports information representative for SDSU’s women’s basketball program, nominated Selland for the award.

“I’m truly honored to be mentioned in the same breath as John Wooden,” Selland said. “As a young girl who loved basketball, I naturally gravitated my attention toward successful people within the sport. Coach Wooden, and his legacy as a coach both on and off the court, is something I have long admired. I must say, it is surreal to have my name printed on this cup next to his.”

The award, named after legendary head coach John Wooden, recognizes athletes who best display character, teamwork and citizenship. It also establishes the recipients as athletes of excellence both on and off the field, role models both as performers and persons—the most important and distinctive honor athletes can achieve.

“She’s created opportunities and opened doors for young people who without Myah, would not have had those chances,” Johnston said.

“Myah is the most genuine, caring and supportive person, who truly puts others before herself,” Nelson added.

Looking back, ahead

Despite her now towering off-court credentials, Selland’s game shouldn’t be taken any less lightly. Since joining the program back in 2017, Selland had been a mainstay in the starting lineup and helped the program to some of its biggest moments, including the 2019 Sweet Sixteen run and the 2022 WNIT Championship.

As for her most memorable moment, that’s tough for Selland to pin down. Of course, the Sweet Sixteen run—the first in program history—was special, but it’s tough to pick against the 2022 WNIT Championship—the final ”full” game on the hallowed grounds of Frost Arena.

“Sweet Sixteen or the WNIT … obviously they are both firsts for the program,” Selland, who was named the WNIT Tournament MVP, said. “The WNIT was so special because we got to do it at home, in Frost, before construction started. That was fun to be a part of and one of those things that just timed out perfectly and we got to be a part of something historic.”

This season, Selland repeated as the conference’s most valuable player and led the Jacks back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. After beating the University of Southern California in overtime, the women fell just short against Virginia Tech—a team that ended up advancing to the Final Four.

“Winning the Summit League Tournament this year and returning to the NCAA Tournament was another high,” Selland said.

Following the season, Selland signed a training camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx—her favorite WNBA team.

“I grew up watching the Lynx so even just signing a contract with them is unbelievable,” Selland said.

Selland was eventually cut by the Lynx toward the end of training camp, but her basketball story isn’t over just yet. In Europe, professional women’s basketball opportunities are plentiful, and most WNBA players end up spending the winter playing for a European team. Selland’s agent is already looking for roster spots for the upcoming season.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity,” Selland said. “There’s no pressure—I’m going to go in and compete and see what I can do.”

Addison DeHaven