On Tuesday, Caitlin Clark was selected the 2024 Wooden Award winner as the most outstanding female college basketball player.
The Hawkeyes standout earned the prize for the second year in a row, beating out finalists Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, JuJu Watkins, and Hannah Hidalgo.
“I think the biggest thing is just how fortunate and lucky I am, and these awards never get old,” Clark said in an interview with “SportsCenter” following the announcement. “I’m extremely fortunate to have a team like mine, to have played for an institution that values women’s basketball so much, and the two seasons that we’ve been able to put together in the last few years have been truly memorable.
“I know it goes fast but I think the biggest thing I tried to remind myself is just how grateful I am and a lot of people would want to be in my shoes. That’s kind of how I try to do everything.”
Clark has become one of the biggest names in women’s basketball over the past two years, leading Iowa to back-to-back appearances in the Final Four — falling to LSU in 2023 and South Carolina this past season — while helping to draw historic interest and ratings — in the women’s game.
Clark’s historic 2023-24 season saw her finish with 3,951 career points — the most of any men’s or women’s Division I player — as she surpassed the longtime record-holder Pete Maravich after she shattered the NCAA women’s career scoring record, which had been held by Kelsey Plum.
"These awards never get old."
Caitlin Clark showed gratitude after winning the Wooden Award in back-to-back seasons 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wjAqQm6iMc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 9, 2024
“There are so many moments it’s hard to pick out,” Clark said as she reflected on her Mount Rushmore memories during college. “But I believe even I value all of the moments in between. Not even simply the on-court activities. Whether it was talking with young fans or having funny times with my teammates in the locker room.
“All of those are what I’ll cherish forever.”
The Iowa Hawkeyes superstar is likely to be the first overall choice in the WNBA draft on Monday in Brooklyn.
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