NEW YORK (AP) – Monday night, Caitlin Clark won the coveted Honda Cup for the second consecutive year, joining her idol Maya Moore as a two-time winner.
The former Iowa standout became just the fourth person to achieve that feat, after Moore (2010), 2011), Tracy Caulkins (1982, 1984), and Rachel Garcia (2019, 2021). She concluded her career as the Division I scoring leader all-time.
It’s difficult to comprehend. In a phone interview Monday night, Clark told the AP, “To be in the same air as her is pretty incredible.” “She’s someone I grew up idolizing since I was 10 years old and wanted to do everything like her.”
Since Clark is currently in the middle of her first WNBA season as a star player with the Indiana Fever, she was unable to attend the awards ceremony. She was unable to interact socially with the other Honda Cup finalists.
Clark remarked, “It stinks,” that he missed the show. “The best part about this event is meeting people who aren’t involved in your sport. learning about their activities and lives.”
The Honda Cup recognizes the best NCAA women’s athletes in the country for their achievements not only on the field but also in leadership, academic achievement, and willingness to give back to the community. After being held in Los Angeles for the previous 12 years, the ceremony was relocated to New York this year.
Izzy Scane, a lacrosse player from Northwestern who was recognized as the best in her sport the previous year, thought it was cool that it was being held here. “It’s great to get to see New York.”
This year’s top three finalists were tied in the vote, producing four deserving honorees. The other athletes were Stanford softball player NiJaree Canady, LSU gymnast Haleigh Bryant, and Texas volleyball player Madisen Skinner.
Two-time Associated Press Player of the Year Clark is the 18th player in basketball history to receive this honor.
Few athletes have won the Honda Cup twice in the 48-year history of the competition, according to Chris Voelz, executive director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. “Caitlin Clark makes history with us as the fourth two-time Cup winner and only the second to win it back-to-back, just as she accomplished many historical firsts in her senior year. We are excited to have her join the elite group of collegiate athletes, and we look forward to her continued influence on our culture and the sports community in the country. She has an amazing class.”
Aaliyah Gayles of USC, a fellow basketball player, received recognition as the Honda Inspiration Award winner. Ever since that April 2022 night when she managed to withstand multiple gunshots, she has served as an inspiration.
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