- Clark’s high school coach accepted the award on behalf of the WNBA player
- Other finalists included Olympic hopefuls David Taylor and Madisen Skinner.
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Caitlin Clark won back-to-back James E. Sullivan Awards for the first time in its 94-year history, having recently been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
The Iowa basketball star won the award Tuesday night. The James E. Sullivan Award is given to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States.
Clark’s high school coach, Kristin Meyer, accepted the award on behalf of the Indiana Fever point guard at the New York Athletic Club. Clark delivered his acceptance speech via Zoom. She was drafted by The Fever earlier this month after leading Iowa to the NCAA Final Four for a second straight year.
Public voting, the AAU Sullivan Award Committee, the AAU Board of Directors, sports media and previous winners decided the winner.
The other finalists were Olympic wrestler David Taylor, Olympic speed skater Emery Lehman, gymnast Frederick Richard, Texas volleyball player Madisen Skinner and Paralympic swimmer Noah Jaffe.
Caitlin Clark’s win comes after she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The 21-year-old was drafted by The Fever after leading Iowa to another Final Four appearance.
The award also honors leadership, good citizenship, character and sportsmanship on and off the field of play.
“The AAU Sullivan Award is an incredible honor,” Clark said via Zoom.
“I have been inspired by so many athletes who have come before me and I hope I can be that same inspiration for the next generation to chase their dreams.”
She has been the main driving force behind the dramatic increase in interest in women’s basketball with her blend of deep 3-point shots, flashy needle-threading passes and overall presence on the court.
A women’s basketball record 18.9 million viewers watched Iowa’s loss to South Carolina in the NCAA title game, and a WNBA record 2.45 million watched the draft.
