IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team was selected No. 1 in the Preseason Big Ten Coaches and Media polls. Junior guard Caitlin Clark was voted Preseason Player of the Year in both polls. Fifth-year post player Monika Czinano and Clark earned All-Big Ten honors in both polls and were both unanimously selected by the coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday.
The Hawkeyes return a plethora of talent from a year ago including all five starters that led the team to the Big Ten Tournament title and a share of the regular season Big Ten Championship. Iowa earned the No. 2 seed the NCAA Tournament in 2022, after another successful regular season campaign under head coach Lisa Bluder.
Clark nabbed both Preseason Player of the Year recognitions for the first time in her career. During her sophomore campaign, Clark led the country in points per game (27.0), assists (8.0), final points (863), free throws made (200), triple-doubles (5), and 30-point games (11). The West Des Moines, Iowa, native also was tabbed Big Ten Player of the Year and was a Naismith and Wooden Award finalist in 2021.
Czinano returns to the Hawkeyes after leading the nation in field-goal percentage (.679), ranking sixth in field goals made (277), 11th in total points (656) and 12th in points per contest (21.2). A season ago, she earned All-Big Ten accolades, was named a semifinalist for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year and was an Associated Press and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention. For the second time in her career, she was named to both of the preseason all-conference teams.
2022-23 Preseason All-Big Ten Women’s Basketball Teams and Polls
Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Iowa
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana
4. Maryland
5. Michigan
Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
GRACIE BERGER, Gr., G, Indiana
Mackenzie Holmes, Sr., F, Indiana
CAITLIN CLARK, Jr., G, Iowa
MONIKA CZINANO, 5th-Yr., F/C, Iowa
Diamond Miller, Sr., G, Maryland
Leigha Brown, 5th-Yr., G, Michigan
Alexis Markowski, So., C/F, Nebraska
TAYLOR MIKESELL, Sr., G, Ohio State
JACY SHELDON, Sr., G, Ohio State
Makenna Marisa, Sr., G, Penn State
Coaches Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Jr., G, Iowa
Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Iowa
2. Indiana
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Nebraska
Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Gracie Berger, Gr., G, Indiana
Mackenzie Holmes, Sr., F, Indiana
CAITLIN CLARK, Jr., G, Iowa
Monika Czinano, 5th-Yr., F/C, Iowa
Diamond Miller, Sr., G, Maryland
Leigha Brown, 5th-Yr., G, Michigan
Alexis Markowski, So., C/F, Nebraska
Taylor Mikesell, Sr., G, Ohio State
JACY SHELDON, Sr., G, Ohio State
Makenna Marisa, Sr., G, Penn State
Media Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Jr., G, Iowa
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS