Clark, Czinano on Preseason Wade Watch List

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior guard Caitlin Clark and fifth-year post player Monika Czinano was named to the Preseason Wade Watch List on Wednesday. This is the 10th preseason honor for Clark and the fifth for Czinano. Iowa and Stanford are the only teams with two representatives on the list.

The Wade Trophy — now in its 46th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.

The Wade Watch list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2022-23 season.

Clark has been tabbed as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, All-Big Ten by coaches and media (unanimous), Nancy Lieberman Preseason Watch List, AP All-American (unanimous), Naismith Watch List, Wooden Award Watch List and The Athletic Player of the Year.

This season, Clark is averaging 26.7 ppg, 6.9 apg, and 6.9 rpg. Clark ranks top 10 in the nation in nine statistical categories. Clark has earned Big Ten Honor Roll in back-to-back weeks and was named to the Phil Knight Legacy All-Tournament Team.

The West Des Moines, Iowa, native also was recognized as Big Ten Player of the Year and was a Naismith and Wooden Award finalist in 2022.

After seven contests, Czinano is averaging 17.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and is shooting 67.6% from the field. Czinano ranks 25th in country in field goals made this season with 49.

A season ago, Czinano 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.