Caitlin Clark wins 2023 Naismith player of the year award; Aliyah Boston, Dawn Staley also honored

Caitlin Clark won the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, the organization announced on Wednesday.

The Iowa star has been steamrolling through the NCAA tournament. She had 41 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the No. 2 Hawkeyes' Elite Eight victory over the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals, a win that sent her team to the Final Four for the first time since 1993. The junior guard is averaging 30 points in the tournament after posting 27.3 points per game in the regular season, good enough for third in the country.

The last Iowa player to win the award came in 2019 when Megan Gustafson took home the prize.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and senior forward Aliyah Boston won the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year and Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year. This is the second straight year each has won their respective titles.

Staley has led the top-seeded Gamecocks to their third straight Final Four and an undefeated season with a program record 36 wins. Boston is capping off her stellar career leading the team in rebounds (9.8 per game) and blocks (2.0 per game).

The Wade Trophy, which is the highest honor in women's college basketball, is expected to be presented later this week. Boston won last year's award.

The Hawkeyes and Gamecocks face off Friday for a chance to reach the national championship.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark wins 2023 Naismith award in women's college basketball