Clark wins second consecutive Naismith Award
Caitlin Clark, who broke the NCAA Division 1 women’s single-season and career scoring records this campaign, won the Naismith National Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive year.
The Iowa senior was honored in a ceremony held Wednesday in Cleveland, where the Hawkeyes will play in the Final Four on Friday.
The other nominees were USC freshman Juju Watkins, Uconn’s Paige Bueckers and Stanford’s Cameron Brink.
“I think it’s been a special year for women’s basketball, and also to win this award is really special,” Clark said. “But to be back here playing with my team, I couldn’t script it any better . ... This (award is just as much my teammates’) as it is mine. I’m just very grateful and thankful, and I’ll see you all on Friday night.”
Clark is averaging 32 points and nine assists per game, both figures leading the nation.
She also pulls down 7.3 rebounds per contest.
Her record point totals stand at 1,183 this season and 3,900 for her four-year career.
She is the first women’s player to win multiple Naismith awards since Uconn’s Breanna Stewart captured three straight from 2014-16.
Bueckers, back after missing a season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, is contributing 22 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for the Final Four-bound Huskies. She and Uconn will oppose Clark and Iowa on Friday.
LSU STAR REESE DECLARES FOR WNBA DRAFT
Angel Reese of LSU is declaring for the WNBA draft.
Reese announced her decision to Vogue magazine in an interview and via a social media post.
She’s expected to be a top10 pick in the April 15 draft.
“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” Reese said. “I’ve won a national championship, I've gotten (Southeastern Conference) Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-american. My ultimate goal is to be a pro – and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I’m ready.”
Reese made the comments to Vogue in mid-march for the story published Wednesday.
Her announcement came two days after LSU was eliminated by Iowa and Clark, who already declared for the WNBA draft. The Indiana Fever are expected to select Clark with the No. 1 overall pick.
Reese leaves after four collegiate seasons and 2,162 points scored at Maryland (2020-22) and LSU. Reese led LSU to the 2022-23 NCAA title.
The six-foot-three Reese had a year of eligibility remaining, averaged 18.6 points and 12.3 rebounds in 116 career games.