Every John R. Wooden Award Since 2004

The Los Angeles Athletic Club presents the John R. Wooden Award each year to the outstanding female collegiate basketball player in the United States. Global Recognition has produced it since the first one in 2004. The trophy needs to look consistent from year to year while being personalized for each new winner.

For years, the name and logo plates were deep-etched by outside suppliers, which took three to four weeks. Once the presentation became a televised event, there was no longer time to wait.

Kristen on our art and production team developed a way to build up layers of UV ink on our digital printers, recreating the depth and texture of a deep-etched plate. That brought plate production in-house.

The 3D-printed crystal, featuring five players that represent rebounding, passing, defense, shooting, and dribbling, and the tapered wood base come from trusted suppliers. We print the name and sponsor plates, then mount and assemble every award in our Green Bay shop.

Plates that once took weeks are now produced within days of the winner being announced to us, and we learn the winner's name before anyone else. Two awards are made each year, including one for the televised presentation.

The photos show how the award has carried its original design forward, from Alana Beard's inaugural award in 2004 to Brittney Griner's in 2012 and Caitlin Clark's in 2024, while the plates have evolved, including a presenting-sponsor plate in recent years.