Caitlin Clark wins back-to-back James E. Sullivan Awards for the first time in honor’s 94-year histoy

Caitlin Clark has won back-to-back James E. Sullivan Awards for the first time in the award’s 94-year history after recently being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft.

The Iowa basketball star claimed the prize Tuesday evening. The James E. Sullivan Award goes to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the US.

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 gave her acceptance speech via Zoom. She was called up by the Fever earlier this month after leading Iowa to the NCAA Final Four for the second straight year.

Voting by the public, the AAU Sullivan Award committee, the AAU Board of Directors, sports media and past winners determined the winner.

The other finalists were Olympic wrestler David Taylor, Olympic skater Emery Lehman, gymnast Frederick Richard, Texas volleyball player Madisen Skinner and Paralympic swimmer Noah Jaffe.

The award also honors leadership, citizenship, character and sportsmanship on and off the playing field.

“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 follow their dreams.”

She has been the main force behind the dramatic increase in interest in women’s basketball with her mix of deep three-point shots, flashy thread-the-needle 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.