Caitlin Clark adds the Wooden Award to her postseason trophy haul

IOWA CITY — It’s a clean sweep.

Associated Press. The Naismith. The Wooden. And all of the others.

All of the major women’s basketball awards for 2022-23 belong to Caitlin Clark.

A junior at the University of Iowa, Clark was named the Wooden Award National Player of the Year on Tuesday. The award is presented annually to “the most outstanding women’s basketball player who achieves tremendous on-court success.”

Joining Clark as finalists for the award were Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana) and Maddy Siegrist (Villanova). All five players are invited to Los Angeles for the 47th annual presentation of the Wooden Award.

The Wooden Award Gala will honor the men’s and women’s Wooden Award winners and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-America teams in Los Angeles on Friday.

Clark already had been recognized as the Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy, Associated Press, Ann Meyers Drysdale, and The Athletic national player of the year, as well as being voted the Big Ten player of the year for the second consecutive season.

A junior from West Des Moines, Clark finished the season averaging 27.8 points per game, 8.6 assists per game, and 7.1 rebounds per game. She has 2,717 career points with one season remaining, and maybe two.

Clark helped lead the Hawkeyes to the championship game of the NCAA tournament. At 31-7, Iowa won its most games in program history.

Also Tuesday, Clark spoke on ESPN’s Outside The Lines about Sunday’s end-of-game incident with LSU’s Angel Reese:

“ ... Angel is a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her. I love her game ... I don't think there should be any criticism for what she did.”

And on a potential invitation to the White House:

“I don't think (runners-up) usually go to the White House. I think LSU should you know enjoy that moment for them. They deserve to go there. Maybe I can go to the White House on different terms.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com