Clark is on track to surpass Pete Maravich in terms of the most points scored by men and women in Division I history.
The legacy of the woman who is arguably the best women’s college player in history has been cemented.
Caitlin Clark, a star Iowan who scored against Michigan on Thursday night, became the NCAA women’s top scorer.
Clark only needed eight points to beat the record. They were probably her easiest eight points ever.
She achieved this by making her first three field goal attempts. The way she did it was impressive.
Caitlin l Clark, Iowa Hawkeyes, celebrates the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 77-73 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2023 NCAA Tournament final four at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on March 31, 2023.
Clark pulled up to what appeared like a prayer, but it was for her just another shot. She scored 3,527 more points than Kelsey Plum, who played at Washington between 2013 and 2017.
Clark’s eight first-quarter points were the only points Iowa scored during the game.
Clark had requested that the game not be stopped once Michigan had gained possession following the shot. Iowa, with the crowd roaring and standing up, called a timeout to honor Clark’s accomplishment.
This was only a preview of what the senior could expect. She hit eight of her ten shots in the first quarter (5-for-7 at 3-point range).
HISTORY ‼️ Caitlin Clark is the new NCAA Women’s Basketball’s All-Time Leading Scorer. 🐐#CaitlinCoverage x @statefarm
💻: PeacockI pic.twitter.com/c2Kdej2gIR
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 16, 2024
Clark might now be thinking about another record, the NCAA women’s and men’s all-time points record.
She is currently in third place behind “Pistol Pete Maravich” (3,667), and she’s on track to surpass Maravich in Iowa’s regular-season finale against No. 2 Ohio State.
Clark knows it’s only a question of when she will break this record, and not if. The Hawkeyes’ Big Ten tournament will begin after Iowa’s last five regular-season games. They’ll then play in the NCAA Tournament.
The ticket prices for the game on Thursday have skyrocketed. According to the Associated Press, TickPick’s average ticket cost was $394.
Caitlin (22), a Hawkeye from Iowa, celebrates her victory in the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies, at Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C., on Nov. 9, 2023.
Although breaking the record quantifies Clark’s influence on women’s basketball, her true impact was felt last year during March Madness.
ESPN reports that after Iowa ended South Carolina’s 42-game winning streak, its matchup against LSU in the finals was the most watched women’s college ballgame in history. 9.9 million people tuned in.
The Des Moines Register reported that Iowa had halted the sale of season tickets in 2023-24 because demand was so high.
Iowa guard Caitlin (22), celebrates with her teammates following a match against Purdue, West Lafayette, Ind. Jan. 10, 2024.
Clark scored 31 points in three quarters on Saturday, her first attempt to break the record for women. But she went scoreless in four.
