NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior point guard
Jenna Clark (Pittsburgh, Pa.) of the Yale women's basketball team has been selected as one of the top 10 candidates for the 2023 Nancy Lieberman Award. The award, now in its 24th year, recognizes the top point guard in women's college basketball. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the top 10 candidates Monday.
Clark leads the Ivy League in assists (111, 22nd nationally), assists per game (5.6, 19th nationally) and minutes per game (35.96, 29th nationally). She is third in the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.50) and seventh in steals per game (1.95). She leads Yale in scoring (11.7 points per game). By assisting or scoring, she has had a hand in 44 percent of Yale's field goals this season – more than any other player in the Ivy League.
Clark emerged as one of the best point guards in the Ivy League last season, earning second team All-Ivy recognition. She established a Yale single-season record with 160 assists. That was 13 more than any other player in the league last year.
Clark is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High.
To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman. Previous winners include Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2022); Paige Bueckers, UConn (2021); Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018-20); Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13); Diana Taurasi, UConn (2003-04) and Sue Bird, UConn (2000-02).
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the initial watch list of 20 Lieberman Award candidates that was announced in October. In March, five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
Players will have the ability to play themselves on or off the list until the final five finalists are announced. The winner of the award will be announced on a date to be determined.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in fan voting starting Friday, Feb. 3 at
hoophallawards.com. The fan vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Lieberman Award Top 10 Candidates
- Caitlin Clark, Iowa
- Jenna Clark, Yale
- Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
- Rori Harmon, Texas
- Maura Hendrixson, Drexel
- McKenna Hofschild, Colorado State
- Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
- Nika Muhl, UConn
- Alexis Morris, LSU
- Lauren Park-Lane, Seton Hall
