The Top 25 was fairly static this week as teams took time off for holiday breaks and ended their nonconference schedules on a light note. As a result, instead of rankings, this week’s national check-in will take stock of the player of the year race.
As a reminder, the preseason AP All-American team (we at The Athletic differed slightly) included Caitlin Clark — last year’s player of the year — as well as Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Elizabeth Kitley, Mackenzie Holmes and Angel Reese. Clark, Brink, Reese and Bueckers remain the betting favorites according to DraftKings and ESPN BET, but the race isn’t that straightforward. Here’s a look at who’s leading the pack as the calendar turns to conference play.
The favorite
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Clark entered the season as a unanimous preseason All-American and the odds-on favorite to repeat as national player of the year. Thus far, she’s done everything she can to retain that status.
The Iowa senior leads the country with 30.5 points per game, making this the third season in a row that Clark has raised her scoring average, an even more remarkable feat considering she posted 26.6 points per game as a freshman. Her assists are slightly down with the absence of Monika Czinano, but she’s still seventh-best nationwide with…
