Caitlin Clark is capping her illustrious college career with another record-breaking season and another prestigious award.
The star guard from the University of Iowa was honored Thursday as The Associated Press women’s college basketball player of the year for the second consecutive season.
Clark received 35 votes from the 36-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Cameron Brink of Stanford received the other vote. Voting was done before the NCAA Tournament began.
The 22-year-old Clark is the sixth player to win the award more than once, and the fifth to do it in consecutive seasons.
The NCAA Division I career scoring leader set numerous records while helping Iowa reach the Final Four for a second consecutive season. A semifinal matchup with Connecticut awaits on Friday night in Cleveland.
Clark’s play, with her logo-depth 3-point shots and dazzling passes, has captured the hearts of fans who showed up by the thousands wearing her No. 22 jersey whether Iowa was at home or on the road.
“I think that’s the best part about what I get to do. I grew up having those role models and aspiring to be where I am today,” Clark said. “It’s super special to see your impact not only in the state of Iowa but across the country. ... To be able to have that impact on the next generation is really special.”
Opposing coaches have called Clark a generational talent and tried to stifle her creativity and scoring, but she averaged 31.9 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.3 rebounds during the regular season to help Iowa go 29–4 and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Her games have become appointment viewing for millions—the Elite Eight rematch with Louisiana State earlier this week was seen by more than 12 million, a record for any women’s college basketball game—and raised the profile of the sport even higher as it enjoys a surge in popularity. She is the presumptive No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft later this month, a slot held by the Indiana Fever.
Clark has been quick to credit her teammates and coaches, and note that the women’s game had stars such as Lynette Woodard, Pearl Moore, and many others long before she started dazzling fans in an era where multitudes of games are easily found on TV every season.
Her college career will be come to an end this weekend and it has been quite a ride for the native of West Des Moines, Iowa.
“I feel like I’ve talked about her, like used every word imaginable to describe her,” Hawkeyes Coach Lisa Bluder said. “She is spectacular. I don’t know how else to describe what she does on the basketball court.”
