Valpo women’s basketball senior Grace White (Redby, Minn./Red Lake [Denver]) earned one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s major postseason awards with her play during the 2021-22 season, as she was announced as the conference’s Sixth Player of the Year during an awards ceremony Thursday evening at Hoops in the Heartland.

White embraced her role at the start of MVC action, as she came off the bench for each of Valpo’s first 17 conference games before returning to the starting lineup for Senior Day last Saturday. The senior was just as productive as ever entering action as a reserve, averaging 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in MVC play — both ranking tops among all conference reserves. White led the team in rebounding, blocked shots and steals during conference action, while ranking second in assists and third in scoring.

White adds the Sixth Player of the Year award to the All-Defensive Team recognition she received on Wednesday. With the Sixth Player of the Year honor, White becomes the first Valpo basketball player — men’s or women’s — to earn a conference major award since Valpo joined the Valley. She is Valpo’s first major award on the women’s side since Dani Franklin was named the Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year and the Freshman of the Year in 2014-15.