| Awarded for | the MVP of the NCAA Division I men's and women's national basketball tournaments |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| History | |
| First award | 1939 (men) 1982 (women) |
| Most recent | Tristen Newton, UConn (men) Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina (women) |
The Most Outstanding Player (MOP) is awarded to one player after the conclusion of the championship game of the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments. The award is also often referred to as the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, referencing the conclusion of the Final Four semifinals and championship games.[1] Accredited media members at the championship game vote on the award.
The players that win the award are predominantly members of the championship team. However, ten men and one woman have won it as players on the losing squad. On the men's side, Houston's Akeem Olajuwon[a] was the last to do so in 1983, while Virginia's Dawn Staley was the only woman to do so in 1991.[1]
One player's award has been officially vacated (not recognized) by the NCAA, while another player's was vacated but later restored. In 1971, Howard Porter won the award despite Villanova losing to UCLA in the championship game.[2] Villanova later vacated their entire season.[2] Meanwhile, Luke Hancock had his MOP award stripped when the NCAA vacated Louisville's 2013 national championship.[3] His award was restored in 2019 when a lawsuit brought against the NCAA was settled, clearing his name of any wrongdoing in the team scandal.[3]