Two weeks after being named TIME Athlete of the Year, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has won another big award. Clark — Who broke the all-time NCAA Division I basketball scoring record and set records. WNBA Taking viewership and attendance to new heights. AP Female Athlete of the Year Tuesday morning.
The award is determined by a vote of 74 Associated Press sportswriters. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles received 25 votes and boxer Imane Kerif received four votes.
Clark becomes the fourth female basketball player to receive this honor, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008 and 2021).
Although Clark is still in the early stages of his WNBA career, he has already set a huge record as a professional. She was a near-unanimous Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-WNBA first team.
Her WNBA records include most assists in a rookie season, most points in a rookie season, most points by a point guard in WNBA history, WNBA single-season assists record, WNBA single-game assists record (19), and WNBA fastest record It will be. Players must hit 100 three-pointers and the list goes on.
Before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark led the University of Iowa to back-to-back national championships and set numerous school records. She also became the only women's Division I basketball player in school history to lead the nation in both scoring and assists.
But more than what Caitlin Clark accomplished on the court, she helped take the WNBA to new heights. The 2023 Fever averaged 4,067 fans per game. The following season, they led the league with over 17,000 fans per game. During the Fever, teams regularly upgraded to larger arenas to accommodate more fans. Fever regular season finale in Washington, D.C. Broke WNBA attendance record It has 20,711 fans. Clark also contributed to unprecedented WNBA television viewership. 19 of her games attracted over 1 million spectators tv viewers.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Clark expressed gratitude for the honor.
“I grew up a fan of Candice Parker and my pioneers, and to be honored in this way is very special and I am grateful,” she said. “This has been a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”
