University basketball player Seimone Augustus was nominated for two honors at the 13th-annual ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., but was defeated in both categories.
Augustus was nominated for Female Athlete of the Year and Female College Athlete of the Year, but the awards went to LPGA golfer Annika Sorenstam and Texas softball pitcher Cat Osterman, respectively.
Despite returning home empty-handed, Augustus said in a news release she enjoyed participating in the show’s festivities.
“I am not disappointed at all,” Augustus said. “It was a great honor for me just to be mentioned with these outstanding athletes.”
Although the awards show was aired on ESPN Sunday night, it actually was taped Wednesday night.
Augustus attended the show at the Kodak Theatre with her parents Seymore and Kim.
“It was a thrill for me and my parents to meet some to the world’s greatest athletes.” Augustus said. “I had a great time in Los Angeles, and I hope to be able to do this again in years to come.”
Fan voting on the ESPY Web site determined the award winners.
“There’s just not a lot more you can say about Seimone Augustus,” Coach Pokey Chapman said July 6 after Augustus was nominated. “So often it is difficult to live up to the hype, but Seimone continues to exceed expectations.”
Augustus averaged 20.1 points and 4.6 rebound per game this season, and she led the Lady Tigers to a 33-3 record and their second consecutive NCAA Final Four appearance.
She was the consensus 2004-05 National Player of the Year for women’s basketball, and her accolades in the sport also include the Naismith Trophy, the John R. Wooden Award, the State Farm Wade Trophy, the Honda Award and both the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association’s Player of the Year honors.
“I think she’s captured every possible individual award out there,” Chapman said. “This is yet another reminder of how special she is. I guess the only thing that does surprise me is her amazing humility in the midst of all the attention.”
The 6-foot-1-inch Augustus is a Baton Rouge native, and will be a senior for the 2005-06 season. She is a business finance major.