Award Winners

Jaloni was a first team Big 10 selection while averaging 23.2 ppg, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists, earning all American honors from the Associated press, US Basketball Writers Association and Sporting News Magazine.

JuJu concluded her season averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. JuJu led her team to an overall 31-4 record and 17-1 in the Big Ten.

“ JuJu Watkins is more than a gifted athlete. She is a transformative player who has elevated our sport at an incredibly early stage in her career. A passionate competitor, her creativity and athleticism make her a must watch player and her basketball IQ and ever-expanding skill set make her a nightmare for opponents every second she is on the court. I couldn’t be more honored to have her name etched along side this award.”  

Dawn Staley

Hannah concluded her season averaging 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds 5.5 assists and 4.6 steals. She led her team in winning the ACC tournament championship and a sweet sixteenth finish in the NCAA tournament. Hannah made first team AP All-American and she is the only player in the nation averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals per game.

"Hannah Hidalgo’s court vision, passing ability, ball-handling and ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates combined with her relentless defense is unmatched. She is the embodiment of a two-way force on the basketball court and the essence of what the award represents."  

Dawn Staley

Clark was this year’s Big 10 player of the year while posting unprecedented numbers of 984 points, 311 assists, 262 rebounds and 56 steals. She led her team in winning the Big 10 Championship while also landing a trip to the final four where she will be going up against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks.

 “We have a first ever three time winner and Caitlin absolutely deserves it….Caitlin is an absolute force, someone who is quite literally changing the way basketball is being played"  

Dawn Staley

"This year’s award is unique – in Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, we have the first ever two-time winner and Caitlin absolutely deserves it.

A dynamic offensive player with shooting range the likes of which our game has never seen."

Dawn Staley

"It’s always a special day when we give out the Dawn Staley award, but I absolutely love that this year it’s going to a freshman because it means fans of our game get to watch Caitlin Clark, an absolute star for so many more years." 

Dawn Staley

"It is a humbling thing each year to see the nation’s best guard be acknowledged as such with an award named after me, but this year it is a particular honor; The Dawn Staley Award going to a player I have had the immense privilege to coach over the last four years. Ty Harris is a special guard, a special player, a special person."

Dawn Staley

Kelsey Mitchell, a 5’8” senior guard from Ohio State University, is the second all-time NCAA scoring leader exceeding the mark this year (3.393 points) held by Jackie Stiles.

Kelsey is this year’s big ten “Player of the Year,” 1st. team all Big Ten and averaged 24.3 points per game.

“Kelsey Mitchell is the kind of player who makes this award mean so much to me.”

Dawn Staley

For four  years Kelsey has been exactly the kind of ambassador women's basketball needs - she's exciting, she's talented, and most of all, she's driven. You don't become the highest scoring player in the history of the game without putting in the work, off the court, every single day. No one is more deserving of this award because no one has worked harder for it.

"Kelsey is the type of player young girls around the world can look up to, and we're all looking forward to seeing what she does next."  

Dawn Staley