Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Breaks NCAA Women’s Career Scoring Record
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Caitlin Clark, the superstar of the Iowa women’s basketball team, has made history by surpassing Kelsey Plum as the NCAA women’s career scoring leader. In an impressive display of skill and determination, Clark scored a school-record 49 points in a 106-89 victory over Michigan, bringing her career total to an astounding 3,569 points. This achievement not only solidifies Clark’s place in the record books but also puts her on track to break even more scoring records in the future.
For Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, Clark’s pursuit of the NCAA record has been both a blessing and a distraction. While it is undoubtedly an incredible feat, Bluder acknowledges that it has taken some focus away from the team’s overall performance. However, with the record now behind them, Bluder believes it is time for the team to shift their attention towards improving and preparing for upcoming tournaments.
Over the past year, Clark has become the face of college basketball, shining a spotlight on the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes. Their journey to the national championship game last season, where they unfortunately fell short against LSU, garnered immense attention and set a television viewership record of nearly 10 million. The game is also remembered for the memorable “you can’t see me” gesture made by Angel Reese towards Clark.
The Hawkeyes continued to make headlines when they played DePaul in an exhibition match at Kinnick Stadium, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 55,646 spectators. This remarkable turnout demonstrated the growing popularity and support for women’s basketball. From the start of this season, Clark’s progress towards the NCAA scoring record has captivated fans and turned into a compelling narrative.
Reflecting on her achievement, Clark expressed her gratitude for those who came before her and paved the way for women’s basketball. She emphasized the importance of celebrating not only her record but also the rich history of the sport. As the season progresses, Clark believes that this is the time for teams to showcase their true abilities, and she has confidence in Coach Bluder’s ability to lead the Hawkeyes to success in the coming months.
Looking ahead, Clark is now just 80 points away from surpassing Lynette Woodard’s major college basketball women’s record of 3,649 points. Although the NCAA does not officially recognize Woodard’s record due to it being set during the era when the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women governed women’s college sports, Clark’s potential achievement will undoubtedly be a significant milestone. Furthermore, if she surpasses Woodard’s record, Clark will be within striking distance of the overall NCAA mark held by LSU’s Pete Maravich, who amassed 3,667 points in just three seasons.
It is worth noting that Woodard and Maravich set their records before the introduction of the 3-point shot in college basketball. The overall record for most points in college basketball belongs to Francis Marion’s Pearl Moore, who scored an incredible 4,061 points from 1975-1979 at the small-college level in the AIAW. However, her record includes 177 points she scored at Anderson Junior College before enrolling at Francis Marion.
The NCAA recently recognized Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer as the all-time wins leader, taking into account her wins during the AIAW era. This decision has sparked a discussion about whether Woodard’s points should also be counted by the NCAA. Coach Bluder supports this idea, stating that it would make sense to include points scored before the NCAA era in official records.
As Caitlin Clark continues to make her mark on women’s college basketball, her pursuit of scoring records has captivated fans and brought attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes. With her exceptional talent and determination, Clark is poised to leave a lasting legacy in the sport. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on her as she inches closer to rewriting the history books and solidifying her place among the greatest players of all time.