Social media reacts as Caitlin Clark captures Sullivan Award
The season hasn’t even started yet, and Caitlin Clark is already racking up awards.
After a successful 2022 campaign that saw the junior guard take home the AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, and nearly every other award under the sun, Clark is starting out 2023 with a bang.
It was announced on Tuesday night that the Des Moines, Iowa, native was the most recent recipient of the 2023 AAU James E. Sullivan Award at the New York Athletic Club.
“I am incredibly humbled,” Clark said. “It is an honor to be selected for this prestigious award that elects a student-athlete that excels on the court and off. All the finalists are equally as deserving. It is special to represent the University of Iowa on this stage.”
The James E. Sullivan Award is given annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States. Clark joins a prestigious list of athletes to win the James E. Sullivan Award that includes Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
She beat out Purdue basketball player Zach Edey, Olympic swimmer Kate Douglass, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, LSU baseball player Dylan Crews, and Tennessee swimmer Jordan Crooks for the honor. She is the second Hawkeye to win the award, joining former Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee.
Clark was the ideal candidate for the award, not only for her play on the court, but her impact off of it as well. Clark was the best player in college basketball last year, sweeping nearly every major award available.
She also helped launch women’s basketball into another level of popularity. The 2023 NCAA championship featuring Iowa and LSU hit 9.9 million viewers, which was up 103% from 2022 and was the most-viewed Division I women’s game in history.
Every Iowa women’s basketball game is sold out for the upcoming season, and their away games will surely be a hot ticket as well.
To the final award given to Caitlin Clark ahead of the 2023 season, here are some of the congratulations social media had to offer for Iowa’s superstar.
It's official
There are still two months before Women's College Basketball.
Iowa's Caitlin Clark is still reeling in awards.
On Tuesday, Clark officially won the 93rd AAU James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the U.S.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) September 20, 2023
The speech
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark wins the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, talks about her first AAU coach being familiar, playing against boys, competing with her brothers, and advancing women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/Y1HHOE1aHQ
— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) September 20, 2023
A crowning moment
Winner takes 𝙖𝙡𝙡 🏆@CaitlinClark22 is the 2023 Sullivan Award Winner. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/EiLgyVJgeL
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) September 20, 2023
Two Hawkeye legends
In Good Company 🤝
Welcome to the club, @caitlinclark22 🏆@LeeSpencerlee36 x #Hawkeyes https://t.co/XfrqkYtb24 pic.twitter.com/CRrCiuqvfX
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) September 20, 2023
Joining elite company
Iowa's Caitlin Clark has won the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award. The Sullivan goes to the most outstanding USA athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level. It started in 1930.
Clark says in a press release, “It is an honor to be selected for this prestigious award that… pic.twitter.com/WthJ7OVkPA
— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) September 20, 2023
Transcendentally
She’s going to be the biggest prospect coming out of college in WNBA HISTORY!
— Anthony Bibbs (@AnthonyBibbs19) September 20, 2023
Another one
— Leonard Mackey (@MackeyLeon14317) September 20, 2023
Go Hawks
So impressive… Go Hawks!!
— Joel Feller 🇺🇸⛳️ (@jfeller21) September 20, 2023
The last time we saw Clark
Caitlin Clark excited? to see the hawk! pic.twitter.com/USe8e95oB1
— hawks 101 (@iahawks101) September 16, 2023
Recent love from the Hawkeye marching band
A little preview of @CaitlinClark22 on Kinnick. 👀 pic.twitter.com/VP486YLxRM
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) September 16, 2023
Less than a month away
𝐎𝐍𝐄. 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇. 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘. 🤩
The Crossover at Kinnick has been picked up by @BigTenNetwork and will now tip off at 2 p.m. (CT)
Game info ➡️ https://t.co/iaBAt5eRPx#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/vmycpzHXFv
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) September 15, 2023
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