IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa sophomore All-American Caitlin Clark has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.
The list is comprised of 20 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the 23rd annual Nancy Lieberman Award that recognizes the best point guard in women’s basketball. The list is chosen based on their floor leadership, playmaking, and ball-handling skills.
Clark is joined by four Big Ten student-athletes, including Indiana’s Ali Patberg, Maryland’s Ashley Owusu, Michigan’s Amy Dilk, and Northwestern’s Veronica Burton.
During her freshman campaign, Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games, setting the Iowa freshman record with 26.6 points per game (men’s or women’s), recording the fourth-highest points per game in single-season in Iowa history (men’s or women’s), and was the 2020-21 NCAA Division I scoring leader (men’s or women’s).
The West Des Moines, Iowa, native was named co-Freshman of the Year and first team All-America by The Athletic, USBWA, and WBCA after leading the nation in total assists (214), total points (799), points per game (26.6), field goals made (266), 3-pointers made (116), and ranked second in assists per game (7.1) and 3-pointers per game (3.87). In early August, Clark won her third gold medal with USA Basketball and was named the FIBA U19 World Cup Most Valuable Player. The USA Team Captain amassed 100 points, 39 assists, 37 rebounds, seven steals, and six blocks in seven contests.
Fans are encouraged to participate in each of the three rounds voting for the Nancy Lieberman Award – voting begins Friday, Oct. 29. The watch list will be narrowed to 10 in January and then to five in late February. In March the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.
Clark and the Hawkeyes open the 2021-22 season with an exhibition against Truman State on Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $5 for adults and admission is free for youth (18 & younger) and UI students.