Wooden Award Flashback: Caitlin Clark's historic run as a Hawkeye
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after making a 3-point basket during a NCAA Big Ten Conference women's basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The John R.
Wooden Award will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary this season. Leading up to the award ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune in partnership with the Wooden Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club will highlight past winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award. From the beginning to her collegiate end, Caitlin Clark built a name for herself in Iowa.
Growing up in Des Moines, she was defined by her deep-range shooting, advanced playmaking, and a relentless scoring mentality. It made her one of the nation’s top recruits by the time she was done at Dowling Catholic High School. Coming into 2020, she donned the gold and black for the University of Iowa and easily became a must-watch player.
Her freshman year she averaged 26. 6 points, 7. 1 assists, and 5.
9 rebounds per game, later earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Big Ten Rookie of the Year, and USBWA and WBCA National Freshman of the Year. And there was no slowing down. Clark elevated every part of her game averaging 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists her sophomore year.