Iowa star Caitlin Clark was named the 2023 Naismith Player of the Year on Wednesday, recognizing her as the most outstanding player in women’s basketball. The award comes after a dominant 2022-23 season in which Clark earned her second straight Big Ten Player of the Year award, among other accolades.
Clark was one of four finalists for the Player of the Year award, a list including 2022 winner Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech and Maddy Siegrist of Villanova. Boston would be named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, while South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was named Naismith Coach of the Year.
On Friday, Clark and the Hawkeyes will play Boston, Staley and the Gamecocks in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
“Winning the Naismith Trophy is such a huge honor for my family and our program,” Clark said. “None of this would be possible without my tremendous support system. I want to also thank Lisa Bluder…
