HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team celebrated a championship season with its annual awards banquet on Wednesday at the Japanese Cultural Center's Generations Ballroom.
 
Olivia Davies received the Ah Chew Goo Award — the most program's most prestigious honor — as UH's Most Valuable Team Player. Now a graduate student, Davies persevered through injuries and personal struggles early in her career to complete her five-year stay in the program as a calming presence on and off the court for the Rainbow Wahine. In presenting the award, UH head coach Laura Beeman praised Davies as "an absolute pillar of strength for our basketball team."
 
Davies also received the team's Academic Award, having earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in English and has maintained a 4.0 GPA while working toward a master's in Social Work.
 
Ashley Thoms capped her UH career by earning the team's Defensive Award for the third straight season. Thoms started 23 games and often drew the defensive assignment on the opponent's leading scorer. Her efforts contributed to UH leading the Big West and ranking 16^th nationally in field-goal percentage defense and finishing second in the conference in scoring defense.
 
Kelsie Imai, UH's assists leader this season, was named the team's Most Improved Player. Freshman Jade Peacock, who appeared in 30 games and made three starts, earned the Rookie of the Year award.
 
Daejah Phillips, Lily Wahinekapu and Imani Perez were recognized for earning All-Big West honors. Phillips made the all-conference first-team and was named the Big West's Best Sixth Player for the second time in her career. Wahinekapu and Perez made the second team and Perez also earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team.
 
Phillips and Wahinekapu also received commemorative basketballs for passing the 1,000-point mark for their careers and Beeman was honored for recording her 200^th career victory at UH.
 
Beeman also took time to recognize Patsy Dung, the program's first head coach, who passed away in early March.
 
The Rainbow Wahine closed the 2023-24 season at 20-3 and went  17-3 in Big West play to capture UH's fifth conference regular-season championship. They earned a third straight postseason appearance with a berth in the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament.
 
2023-24 University of Hawai'i women's basketball awards
Rookie of the Year — Jade Peacock
Academic Award — Olivia Davies
Most Improved Player — Kelsie Imai
Defensive Award — Ashley Thoms
Ah Chew Goo Award / Most Valuable Team Player — Olivia Davies