Caitlin Clark earned some new hardware after Thursday night’s ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.
The former Iowa women’s basketball and current Indiana Fever superstar guard was nominated in three categories from her time as a Hawkeye: best women’s athlete, best record-breaking performance (win) and a best women’s college athlete (win, second year in a row).
Below is a recap of all Clark-related happening from the awards show:
Caitlin Clark wins “Best record-breaking performance”
After breaking the Division I scoring record for both men’s and women’s basketball, Clark won the ESPY for “best record-breaking performance.”
She wasn’t in attendance to receive the award but did send a video message saying thanks.
Caitlin Clark mentioned in segment on growth of women’s sports
Serena and Venus Williams, and actress Quinta Brunson, all gathered on stage to discuss the growth of women’s sports over the past year.
The segment featured many jokes and sarcasm, with one portion focused on encouraging new women’s sports fans to treat the athletes the same as anyone else.
During the messaging about liking more than one athlete at a time, Venus used the example of “Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese,” alluding to their ongoing WNBA Rookie of the Year race and how it has divided some of the sport’s fanbase.
Caitlin Clark falls short of “Best Athlete-Women’s Sports” to winner A’ja Wilson
Absolutely no surprise or shame in Clark losing this category to the great A’ja Wilson of the reigning WNBA back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces.
Clark even being nominated for her college performance is a testament to her Iowa career and greatness.
Wilson is a two-time WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year who is currently enjoying what many consider to be one of the greatest individual WNBA seasons of all time: 26.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.
Other nominees were Coco Gauff (tennis), who won the 2023 U.S. Open at just 19 years old, and Nelly Korda (golf), who won the Chevron Championship and held the world No. 1 ranking in 2023.
ESPYS TV opening featured Caitlin Clark video highlights
With Clark being such a mainstay of sports media and culture over the past year, as well as the growth of women’s sports a whole, she was deservingly featured in the show’s opening.
Host Serena Williams teases Caitlin Clark with comparison to Larry Bird
“Caitlin Clark had an amazing year and is nominated for three awards,” Williams said. “Caitlin, you are Larry Bird in that you’re an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana and white people are really crazy about you.”
Caitlin Clark wins best women’s college athlete during ESPYS Red Carpet Show
Clark’s honors got started even before the show officially started.
During the ESPYS Red Carpet Show, which featured coverage of some of the top athletes arriving for the event, Clark was announced as the winner of “best women’s college athlete.”
This is the second year in a row that she’s received the award.
She beat out Haleigh Bryant (LSU gymnastics), Sarah Franklin (Wisconsin volleyball) and Izzy Scane (Northwestern lacrosse).
Who is at the ESPYS?
Clark is not in attendance, but here are photos of some of the top athletes from the awards show:
The most prominent athletes are trading in their uniforms for glitz and glam on the 2024 ESPY Awards red carpet in Los Angeles. Check out photos.
What ESPY Awards is Caitlin Clark nominated for?
- Best women’s athlete
- Best record-breaking performance
- Best women’s college athlete
How to watch the 2024 ESPYS?
- TV: ESPN
- Stream: FUBO – Try your 7-day free trial
What time do the ESPYS start?
The 2024 ESPY Awards begin at 7 p.m. CT.
Has Caitlin Clark ever won an ESPY?
Yes. Clark won “best women’s college athlete” in 2023.
She was also nominated for “best breakthrough athlete” but lost to LSU’s Angel Reese.
Who are the 2024 ESPY Award nominees for best women’s athlete?
- Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball
- Coco Gauff, Tennis
- Nelly Korda, Golf
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Who are the 2024 ESPY Award nominees for best record-breaking performance?
- Caitlin Clark becomes NCAA’s all-time scoring leader, breaking Pete Maravich’s Record
- 49ers Christian McCaffrey scores a TD for a record breaking 17 straight games
- Tara VanDerveer, Stanford women’s basketball – gets 1,203rd win to pass Coach K for most by any coach in NCAA basketball history
- Max Verstappen wins record 10th consecutive race with victory at Italian Grand Prix
Who are the 2024 ESPY Award nominees for best women’s college athlete?
- Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball
- Haleigh Bryant, LSU gymnastics
- Sarah Franklin, Wisconsin volleyball
- Izzy Scane, Northwestern lacrosse
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