As March Madness unfolds, two shining stars of women’s college basketball, Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink, have clinched the prestigious 2024 Naismith Awards.

Clark, the luminary of the Iowa Hawkeyes, secured the title of 2024 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year. This marks her second consecutive season claiming this honor, placing her among the elite few to achieve back-to-back victories and joining the ranks of those who have earned the award multiple times.

“To be a two-time recipient of the Naismith Trophy is truly humbling,” Clark said in a statement. “Being selected as this season’s honoree is truly special with the number of talented and skilled players across the country. I want thank my family, coaches and teammates who helped me get to this point.”

Meanwhile, Stanford Cardinal’s standout, Brink, garnered recognition as the recipient of the 2024 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year. Notably, she was also a finalist for the Women’s College Player of the Year award.

“It’s an incredible honor to be named the 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year,” Brink said in a statement. “It may be an individual award, but it’s a testament to all the people who have poured into me, not only this season but throughout my career at Stanford — my family, coaches, teammates, and friends. I wouldn’t be where I am without them, and I am extremely grateful for all their love and support.”

In addition to their Naismith accolades, Clark and Brink share another commonality: lucrative name, image, and likeness (NIL) sneaker deals.

In October 2022, Nike proudly announced the signing of Clark, alongside several other rising basketball talents, including Bronny James, son of LeBron James, and JuJu Watkins, who transitioned from high school stardom to college basketball with USC.

Similarly, Brink inked a significant NIL deal with New Balance in October 2023, marking her as the first female basketball player to be signed by the brand.

Beyond Clark and Brink, South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley secured an award of her own. For the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the last five years, Staley was bestowed with the title of 2024 Naismith Werner Ladder Women’s Coach of the Year.

Staley’s accomplishments extend beyond the basketball court, as she ventured into the world of footwear through a partnership with active recovery footwear brand Oofos in March 2022.

Caitlyn Clark always spark the news spotlight, so this is brief intro of Cameron Brink?

Class: Senior

Height  : 6′ 4″

Birthplace: Beaverton, Oregon
2023 – 2024 season stats
1. points: 17.4

Rebounds: 11.9
Assissts: 2.8
Field Goal success: 51.1%

(source: ESPN)