Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Wins Naismith Player Of The Year Award
A historic season for the Iowa women's basketball program and its star guard Caitlin Clark got even more amazing tonight, as Clark was awarded the most prestigious award in women's college basketball.
Caitlin Clark is your Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy winner in 2023! Clark was named the top women's player of the year during a ceremony tonight at Reunion Tower in Dallas, Texas, the city hosting this year's women's Final Four. Clark was a finalist for the award along with last year's winner, Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech, and Maddy Siegrist of Villanova.
If it seems like Clark sets a record after every game she plays, you're not wrong. She became the first Division I player in history to score 900 or more points and hand out over 300 assists in the same season. She is the first Division I player in history to have multiple 35-point triple-double games, with two of them coming this season! And then there was the Elite Eight game against Louisville. She became the first college basketball player, man or woman, in NCAA Tournament history to score 40 or more points while putting up a triple-double.
Clark said,
“Winning this award is a huge accomplishment. 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 was also named as the winner of the Fan Vote earlier in the day.
All the amazing statistics and the fact the Hawkeyes are back in the Final Four for the first time in 30 years simply made Clark the obvious choice for this year's Naismith Award. But the big moments for this Iowa basketball team aren't done yet. Friday night, Clark and the Hawkeyes take on fellow Naismith finalist Aliyah Boston and South Carolina in the Final Four. Clark has helped the Hawkeyes win every other conceivable trophy this season. Why not bring home one more? LET'S GO HAWKS!