Caitlin Clark wins Naismith Award
In her freshman year, Caitlin Clark knocked on the door of the national awards in women’s college basketball. In her sophomore year, Clark opened the door a crack and took a step closer to being recognized as the best player in the college game.
This year there was no denying Clark. On Wednesday she was named the 2023 winner of the Naismith Trophy as the women’s college basketball player of the year. It should be the first of many national player of the year awards coming the way of the Iowa guard.
“Winning this award is a huge accomplishment,” Clark said. “This is such a huge honor for our family and program. None of this would be possible without my tremendous support system. I was to thank Lisa Bluder and her staff for giving me the opportunity to play basketball at the University of Iowa. It is place I have thrived in since I stepped on campus.”
Clark is one of three Hawkeye recipients of the Naismith Trophy since 2019, and the second women’s player. Megan Gustafson was the 2019 honoree, while Luka Garza was chosen in 2021. Iowa is one of just six institutions to have both a men’s and women’s Naismith Trophy honoree (Duke, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas and Virginia).
“The Naismith Trophy represents the pinnacle of achievement in college basketball, and it is a great honor to congratulate Caitlin,” said Eric Oberman, Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Her sheer dominance in today’s women’s college basketball game is undeniably awe-inspiring, and we are very proud to recognize her remarkable accomplishments this season.”
The West Des Moines, Iowa, native also was recognized as Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive season as well as The Athletic National Player of the Year. She was also a unanimous Associated Press and All-Big Ten First Teamer.
She led the Hawkeyes to the Final Four for the first time since 1993. In the Elite Eight win over Lousiville on Sunday in Seattle, Clark scored 41 points, dished out 12 assists, and pulled down 10 rebounds. It was her 11th career triple double and the first player in NCAA Tournament history to post a 40 point triple double.
In the Elite Eight game, Clark became the first player in Division One women’s basketball history to score 900 points and dish out 300 assists in the same season. She is the only player in the country this season to score 950 points, have 240 rebounds, hand out 300 assists, and have at least 45 steals.
This season, Clark is averaging 27.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game. She has made 127 three point field goals and is shooting 84% from the foul line.
She is also a finalist for the Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, and the Nancy Lieberman Award. Clark is also on the late season watch list for the Dawn Staley Award.
Iowa will be back on the court on Friday night when they face Staley’s team, undefeated South Carolina, in the second game at the Final Four in Dallas. Game time is set for approximately 8:30 p.m.
