For the second consecutive season, Caitlin Clark, the standout guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, has clinched the prestigious Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Award, a testament to her extraordinary season.

Clark’s dominance on the court was unrivaled as she topped Division I in scoring, averaging an impressive 32.0 points per game, while also leading in assists with 9.0 per contest. Her remarkable achievements include surpassing basketball legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich to become the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division-I history for both men’s and women’s basketball.

Additionally, Clark etched her name in the record books this season by setting a new milestone for the most points scored in a single women’s NCAA Division I basketball season, further solidifying her status as one of the game’s most exceptional talents.

“I think it’s been a special year for women’s basketball, so to win this award is really special,” Clark said Wednesday.

Caitlin Clark has solidified her place in women’s college basketball history by becoming the first player since Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart to secure the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Award in consecutive years. Stewart had clinched three consecutive awards from 2014 to 2016.

In a defining moment during the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinals game against the Penn State Lady Lions in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Clark’s reaction was one of triumph as she made a pivotal 3-pointer, breaking the NCAA single-season 3-point record across all genders.

At just 22 years old, Clark’s exceptional talent has propelled the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. She is widely anticipated to be the top pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, adding another accolade to her impressive resume.

In a thrilling rematch against the LSU Tigers, reminiscent of last year’s national championship game, Clark led Iowa to a 94-87 victory in what turned out to be the most watched women’s college basketball game in history, as reported by ESPN. Clark’s stellar performance included a staggering 41 points, with a remarkable 9-of-20 shooting from beyond the arc, along with 12 assists and seven rebounds.

During her speech, Clark reflected on the growth of women’s basketball and noted the expansion of the presentation room at the award ceremony each year, highlighting the increasing prominence of the women’s game.

The Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Award, presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, recognizes the player who has been deemed by journalists, coaches, previous winners, and conference commissioners to have had the most outstanding season. Clark’s well-deserved recognition underscores her exceptional contributions to the sport and her impact on its continued evolution.