Iowa guard Caitlin Clark and nine others were named semifinalists for the 2024 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Award on Thursday.
The full list of semifinalists for the most prestigious individual prize in women’s college basketball is as follows:
Madison Booker, F, Texas
Cameron Brink, F, Stanford
Paige Bueckers, G, UConn
Kamilla Cardoso, C, South Carolina
Caitlin Clark, G, Iowa
Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame
Elizabeth Kitley, C, Virginia Tech
Angel Reese, F, LSU
Jacy Sheldon, G, Ohio State
Judea “JuJu” Watkins, G, USC
Naismith Awards @NaismithTrophy
Clark, who swept the Player of the Year awards last year, seems like a virtual lock to go back-to-back as Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year.
The likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft leads Division I women’s college basketball in scoring (31.9 points per game), assists (8.9 per game) and three-pointers made (5.2 per game), while also chipping in 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. She is also shooting 46.0 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.
In a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal win over Penn State last week, Clark set the all-time record for most three-pointers made in a season by a woman or man in Division I college basketball, surpassing Stephen Curry’s record of 162.
Clark also previously broke “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s all-time career scoring record of 3,667 points.
With Clark leading the way, the Hawkeyes are the No. 2 team in the nation with a 29-4 record, and they won the Big Ten tournament title over Nebraska on Sunday.
In addition to Clark, three of the other top-five scorers in women’s college basketball this season are Naismith semifinalists as well.
Watkins (27.0 points per game), Hidalgo (23.3 points per game) and Kitley (22.8 points per game) are second, third and fifth, respectively, in scoring this season, and any of them would be strong candidates to be named Player of the Year under different circumstances.
Bueckers is the other semifinalist averaging at least 20 points per game this season with 21.3 points per contest to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks.
Her season is made even more impressive by the fact that he 2021 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year missed the entire 2022-23 season due to a torn ACL.
Representing the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks, who are undefeated with a 32-0 record, is Cardoso.
Her averages of 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.1 assists per game don’t necessarily jump off the page, but that is because South Carolina has such a deep and balanced team.
Cardoso likely won’t be a legitimate contender for National Player of the Year because of that, but she deserved recognition as the best player on the best team.
Reese, who was the women’s NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player last year en route to LSU winning the national title, has enjoyed another excellent season on a stacked LSU team.
She averaged 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per contest for the Tigers, who are the No. 8 team in the nation with a 28-5 record.
Reese’s Tigers and Clark’s Hawkeyes memorably clashed in the National Championship Game last season, and while Reese got the better of Clark on that occasion, Clark figures to get the nod for 2024 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year.
Sign up to Play the NCAA March Madness Women’s Bracket Challenge.
News
Don’t trust home remedies from video mimicking untrustworthy ‘naturopath’ Barbara O’Neill
IN SHORT: Short videos circulating on Facebook with “health secrets” for slowing down ageing contain nothing but unreliable home “remedies”. What’s more, these videos are unusual in that…
Just five hours after a newborn was heartbreakingly abandoned, Dr. Barbara O’Neill stepped forward with compassion, vowing to become the child’s guardian and cover every expense until the child reaches 18 years of age.
A story of pure compassion and humanity has captured the hearts of millions. Dr. Barbara O’Neill, a well-respected pediatrician and humanitarian, has stepped forward to change the…
Consider Planting Aloe Vera in Your Garden: 10 Compelling Reasons Why You Should
Consider Planting Aloe Vera in Your Garden: 10 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Looking to add something new to your garden? Consider aloe vera. This hardy, low-maintenance plant…
Who is Barbara O’Neill’s daughter and what happened to her?
Barbara O’Neill is renowned for natural health and wellness. Her holistic lifestyle and alternative medicine practice have inspired many to embrace natural healing. Barbara O’Neill’s daughter has…
What happened to Barbara O’Neill after getting banned in Australia?
Barbara O’Neill has become a polarising figure in the wellness community, particularly following her ban from providing health services in Australia. She has long advocated for unconventional…
Since I’ve been using them, my garden has produced spectacular fruit in this way! The ancient remedy that never fails
Since I’ve been using them, my garden has produced spectacular fruit in this way! The ancient remedy that never fails Ever since I incorporated them into my…
End of content
No more pages to load