Caitlin Clark on Track to Become All-Time NCAA Division I Scoring Leader
The anticipation is building as Caitlin Clark, the star player for the sixth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, is on track to become the all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader. This historic moment is expected to take place when Iowa faces off against No. 2 Ohio State at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday.
Just four days ago, Clark broke Lynette Woodard’s record for the most points scored by a major college women’s player. Now, she has her sights set on surpassing Pete Maravich’s total of 3,617 points. If she scores just 18 points against the Buckeyes, Clark will secure her place in history as the new scoring leader.
The significance of this achievement is not lost on Clark or her fans. A full house is expected to be in attendance to celebrate Clark’s senior day. In a recent announcement, she revealed her decision to enter the 2024 WNBA draft and forgo her fifth year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clark is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever, and this news has already led to a surge in ticket sales for WNBA games.
Even after Sunday’s game, Clark is likely to have at least one or two more appearances at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is projected to be a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which means they would have home-court advantage for the first two rounds.
While Clark’s achievements are remarkable, there is still one more record she has her sights set on. Pearl Moore of Francis Marion currently holds the overall women’s scoring record with 4,061 points from 1975-79 at the small-college level in the AIAW. Clark is currently 411 points behind Moore and has only three to ten more games left in her Iowa uniform, depending on the team’s performance in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
If Clark surpasses Maravich’s record, it will undoubtedly be a subject of scrutiny. Maravich’s scoring mark is considered one of the most remarkable in sports history. He achieved his record in just 83 games across three seasons from 1967 to 1970, a time when there was no shot clock or 3-point line. The 3-point line was only adopted in 1986. Maravich averaged an astounding 44.2 points per game and even scored over 60 points in a game four times, with his highest being 69 against Alabama on February 7, 1970.
In comparison, Clark currently averages 28.3 points per game throughout her career and will be playing her 130th game on Sunday. Her career-best performance came against Michigan on February 15, where she scored 49 points and surpassed Kelsey Plum as the NCAA women’s Division I career scoring leader. Clark holds the record for the most games with at least 30 points, surpassing any player in men’s or women’s college basketball over the past 25 years. Additionally, she has achieved six triple-doubles this season and a total of 17 in her career.
Clark’s impact extends beyond her individual achievements. The Iowa Hawkeyes have experienced tremendous success this season, selling out or breaking attendance records in 30 out of their 32 games. The only exceptions were two games that took place during a Thanksgiving tournament in Florida.
Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico acknowledges Clark’s influence on the women’s game, stating, “She is just a phenomenal, phenomenal player who has helped change the women’s game. She has brought an enormous amount of light, respect, and viewership to women’s basketball. She is awesome and a true competitor. You either love her or hate her, but most of the time, people hate her because of how hard she competes. I have a tremendous amount of respect for someone who is that competitive and has never met a shot she didn’t like.”
As the stage is set for Caitlin Clark’s potential record-breaking performance, basketball fans around the world eagerly await this historic moment. Whether she surpasses Maravich’s record or not, there is no denying that Clark has left an indelible mark on the women’s game and has become a true icon in the sport.
