Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award Trophy presented to “The Outstanding College Basketball Player in the United States,” is given to the player who receives the most points in the annual balloting. A candidate’s performance in the regular season, conference tournaments and postseason are taken into account by voters, as is the player’s character.
Women’s Winners
| Year | Player | School |
| 2024 | Caitlin Clark | University of Iowa |
| 2023 | Caitlin Clark | University of Iowa |
| 2022 | Aliyah Boston | University of South Carolina |
| 2021 | Paige Bueckers | University of Connecticut |
| 2020 | Sabrina Ionescu | University of Oregon |
| 2019 | Sabrina Ionescu | University of Oregon |
| 2018 | A'ja Wilson | University of South Carolina |
| 2017 | Kelsey Plum | University of Washington |
| 2016 | Breanna Stewart | University of Connecticut |
| 2015 | Breanna Stewart | University of Connecticut |
| 2014 | Chiney Ogwumike | Stanford University |
| 2013 | Brittney Griner | Baylor University |
| 2012 | Brittney Griner | Baylor University |
| 2011 | Maya Moore | University of Connecticut |
| 2010 | Tina Charles | University of Connecticut |
| 2009 | Maya Moore | University of Connecticut |
| 2008 | Candace Parker | University of Tennessee |
| 2007 | Candace Parker | University of Tennessee |
| 2006 | Seimone Augustus | Louisiana State University |
| 2005 | Seimone Augustus | Louisiana State University |
| 2004 | Alana Beard | Duke University |
Men’s Winners
| Year | Player | School |
| 2023 | Zach Edey | Purdue University |
| 2022 | Oscar Tshiebwe | University of Kentucky |
| 2021 | Luka Garza | University of Iowa |
| 2020 | Obi Toppin | University of Dayton |
| 2019 | Zion Williamson | Duke University |
| 2018 | Jalen Brunson | Villanova University |
| 2017 | Frank Mason III | University of Kansas |
| 2016 | Buddy Hield | University of Oklahoma |
| 2015 | Frank Kaminsky | University of Wisconsin |
| 2014 | Doug McDermott | Creighton University |
| 2013 | Trey Burke | University of Michigan |
| 2012 | Anthony Davis | University of Kentucky |
| 2011 | Jimmer Fredette | Brigham Young University |
| 2010 | Evan Turner | Ohio State University |
| 2009 | Blake Griffin | University of Oklahoma |
| 2008 | Tyler Hansbrough | University of North Carolina |
| 2007 | Kevin Durant | University of Texas |
| 2006 | J.J. Redick | Duke University |
| 2005 | Andrew Bogut | University of Utah |
| 2004 | Jameer Nelson | Saint Joseph’s University |
| 2003 | T.J. Ford | University of Texas |
| 2002 | Jason Williams | Duke University |
| 2001 | Shane Battier | Duke University |
| 2000 | Kenyon Martin | University of Cincinnati |
| 1999 | Elton Brand | Duke University |
| 1998 | Antawn Jamison | University of North Carolina |
| 1997 | Tim Duncan | Wake Forest University |
| 1996 | Marcus Camby | University of Massachusetts |
| 1995 | Ed O’Bannon | University of California, Los Angeles |
| 1994 | Glenn Robinson | Purdue University |
| 1993 | Calbert Cheaney | Indiana University |
| 1992 | Christian Laettner | Duke University |
| 1991 | Larry Johnson | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| 1990 | Lionel Simmons | La Salle University |
| 1989 | Sean Elliott | University of Arizona |
| 1988 | Danny Manning | University of Kansas |
| 1987 | David Robinson | United States Naval Academy |
| 1986 | Walter Berry | St. John’s University |
| 1985 | Chris Mullin | St. John’s University |
| 1984 | Michael Jordan | University of North Carolina |
| 1983 | Ralph Sampson | University of Virginia |
| 1982 | Ralph Sampson | University of Virginia |
| 1981 | Danny Ainge | Brigham Young University |
| 1980 | Darrell Griffith | University of Louisville |
| 1979 | Larry Bird | Indiana State University |
| 1978 | Phil Ford | University of North Carolina |
| 1977 | Marques Johnson | University of California, Los Angeles |