Iowa’s Caitlin Clark wins Naismith Trophy for women’s basketball national player of the year

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark was awarded the Naismith Trophy on Wednesday as the national player of the year in women’s college basketball.

Clark, the first player in Division I women’s or men’s history to total at least 900 points and 300 assists in a season, is averaging 27.3 points 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game in leading the third-ranked Hawkeyes (30-6) to the Final Four.

“When I was here (at the Naismith ceremony) in Minnesota last year, my goal was to be here with my team,” she said in a speech after receiving the trophy, three days after posting 41 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in an Elite Eight win over Louisville, a statistical performance unmatched in NCAA tournament history. “That’s the most important thing to me, is to be at the Final Four competing with my team.

“I know this award isn’t possible without every single one of you back there, and I truly mean that. It’s just as much yours as it is mine. Same with our coaches.

“I came to the University of Iowa with a dream to be here and competing for the national championship. These two, Coach (Lisa) Bluder, Coach (Jan Jensen), I love you. Your belief in this team and this program means so much to me and what we’ve been able to achieve. But lucky enough, I have a few more years, too.”

Clark is the second Iowa women’s basketball player in five years to win it, joining Megan Gustafson in 2019. Iowa’s Luka Garza won the men’s Naismith Trophy in 2021.

Last year’s Player of the Year, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston repeated as Defensive Player of the Year. Her coach, Dawn Staley, was named Coach of the Year.

Boston, Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley and Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist joined Clark as Player of the Year finalists.

“Our game has grown so much, I know this is a super hard decision and can go to any single player, and even, I believe, more than just four people in America,” Clark said. “I’m just very lucky and honored and thankful, more than anything.”

The Hawkeyes and top-ranked, undefeated South Carolina meet in the Final Four at 8:30 p.m. Friday.