Media, coaches pick Iowa to win the Big Ten women’s basketball title

The media and the coaches agree:

Iowa heads into the 2022-23 women’s basketball season as the Big Ten’s top team, and Caitlin Clark is the top player.

Big Ten regular-season co-champions and tournament champions last season, the Hawkeyes (24-8) were ranked No. 1 in league polls both by the sportswriters that cover the league, and by the coaches.

Indiana is picked second, Ohio State third by the media, with the Buckeyes and the Hoosiers flip-flopped in the coaches’ voting.

Maryland is fourth, with Nebraska fifth by the media and Michigan fifth by the coaches.

A first-team All-America pick last year, Clark — a junior point guard from West Des Moines — led the country in both scoring (27.0 points per game), and assists (8.0 per game).

Monika Czinano joins Clark on the 10-player preseason all-Big Ten team. Czinano returns to Iowa for a fifth year after leading the nation in field-goal percentage (.679) and scoring 21.2 points per game.

2022-23 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS

1. Iowa

2. Indiana

3. Ohio State

4. Maryland

5. Nebraska

2022-23 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Grace Berger, Grad., G, Indiana

Mackenzie Holmes, Sr., F, Indiana

* Caitlin Clark, Jr., G, Iowa (unanimous)

Monika Czinano, 5th-Yr., F/C, Iowa

Diamond Miller, Sr., G, Maryland

Leigha Brown, 5th-Yr., G, Michigan

Alexis Markowski, So., C/F, Nebraska

Taylor Mikesell, Sr., G, Ohio State

Jacy Sheldon, Sr., G, Ohio State (unanimous)

Makenna Marisa, Sr., G, Penn State

* Player of the year

2022-23 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS

1. Iowa

2. Ohio State

3. Indiana

4. Maryland

5. Michigan

2022-23 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Grace Berger, Grad., G, Indiana (unanimous)

Mackenzie Holmes, Sr., F, Indiana

* Caitlin Clark, Jr., G, Iowa (unanimous)

Monika Czinano, 5th-Yr., F/C, Iowa (unanimous)

Diamond Miller, Sr., G, Maryland

Leigha Brown, 5th-Yr., G, Michigan

Alexis Markowski, So., C/F, Nebraska

Taylor Mikesell, Sr., G, Ohio State (unanimous)

Jacy Sheldon, Sr., G, Ohio State (unanimous)

Makenna Marisa, Sr., G, Penn State

* Player of the year

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com