Iowa Women, Caitlin Clark Lead Big 10 In Preseason Poll

(Undated) -- The University of Iowa women's basketball team is the preseason Big Ten Conference leader in a preseason poll of coaches and media. The panel has also chosen Iowa senior guard Caitlin Clark as the 2023-24 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Other preseason polls have placed Iowa among the top teams in the country.

Seven Big Ten teams made the 2023 NCAA Tournament and Iowa became the first Big Ten team since 2015 to reach the Final Four and the first since 2005 to appear in the National Championship game.

Preseason practices are underway for all 14 Big Ten member institutions.

"We start the season, without 40% of our starting lineup, but we also start the season with the nation's best player, Caitlin Clark," said Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder, during her first news conference of the new season. Iowa will host DePaul October 15th, at an outdoor venue, Kinnick Stadium. Bluder says she's hoping the game will attract a record, 50,000 fans.

The 2023 Big Ten Basketball Media Days Oct. 9 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

The 2023-24 regular season tips off Nov. 6, while the 31st Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament will take place March 6-10, also at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The 2023 NCAA Women’s Final Four is scheduled for April 5 and 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

The 2023-24 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and rankings are as follows:

 

2023-24 Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings

1. Iowa

2. Ohio State

3. Indiana

4. Maryland

5. Illinois

2023-24 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team*

Makira Cook, sr., G, Illinois

MACKENZIE HOLMES, Grad., F, INDIANA

CAITLIN CLARK, SR, G, IOWA

SHYANNE SELLERS, JR., G, MARYLAND

LAILA PHELIA, JR., G, MICHIGAN 

Mara Braun, So., G, Minnesota

Alexis Markowski, Jr., C/F, Nebraska

Jaz Shelley, Grad., G, Nebraska

COTIE McMAHON, SOPH., F, OHIO STATE

Jacy Sheldon, Grad, G, Ohio State

Makenna Marisa, Senior+, G, Penn State

*Additional player due to tie in voting

2023-24 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year

Caitlin Clark, Sr. G, Iowa

2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason Rankings

1. Iowa

2. Indiana

3. Ohio State

4. Maryland

5. Michigan

2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Makira Cook, Sr., G, Illinois

Mackenzie Holmes, Grad., F, Indiana

CAITLIN CLARK, SR., G, IOWA 

Shyanne Sellers, Jr., G, Maryland

Laila Phelia, Jr., G, Michigan

Alexis Markowski, Jr., C/F, Nebraska

Jaz Shelley, Grad, G, Nebraska

Cotie McMahon, Soph., F, Ohio State

Jacy Sheldon, Grad., G, Ohio State

Makenna Marisa, Senior+, G, Penn State

2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year

Caitlin Clark, Sr., G, Iowa

Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS