The Associated Press recently announced its annual women’s college basketball player and coach of the year awards. Caitlin Clark of Iowa was awarded the AP Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, while Dawn Staley of South Carolina received the AP Coach of the Year honor for the second time. The men’s awards will be announced later in the week. The voting panels for the awards consist of media members who regularly cover college basketball and vote in the AP Top 25 college basketball polls. The women’s panel is made up of 35 media members, including local beat writers and national media.
The process for selecting voters for the AP awards involves AP staff members inviting journalists who are AP members to participate in the poll. Voters are then approved by AP editors. The voting takes place at the conclusion of the regular season and before the NCAA Tournament begins. The evaluations are based on regular season performance, so how a team performs in March Madness does not impact the voting outcome. The AP Player of the Year award for men has been given out since 1961, with Ohio State’s Jerry Lucas being the first recipient. The women’s AP Player of the Year award was introduced in 1995, with UConn’s Rebecca Lobo being the inaugural winner.
Some notable recipients of the awards include Virginia’s Ralph Sampson, the only three-time winner of the men’s player of the year award, and UConn’s Breanna Stewart, the only three-time winner among women. John Wooden and Geno Auriemma are among the most decorated coaches in the history of the awards, with Wooden winning the first AP coach of the year award in 1967 and Auriemma winning the first women’s coach of the year award in 1995. Bob Knight and Muffet McGraw have also received multiple coaching awards, with Knight being second to Wooden for men’s coaches and McGraw being second to Auriemma for women’s coaches.
In terms of impact, the awards can have a significant effect on the recognition and popularity of players and coaches. For example, the “Caitlin Clark effect” has doubled the ticket prices for the Women’s Final Four compared to the Men’s Final Four. This showcases the increasing visibility and importance of women’s college basketball and the impact of standout players like Caitlin Clark. Overall, the AP player and coach of the year awards are a prestigious honor in the world of college basketball and serve as a recognition of excellence and achievement in the sport.
