Caitlin Clark ultimate guide: The Iowa senior’s pursuit of the NCAA scoring record
On Feb. 15, Iowa senior Caitlin Clark scored a career-high and program-record 49 points to break Kelsey Plum’s record for most career points in women’s NCAA history. The 6-foot-0 guard scored the record-breaking
points on — what else? — a logo 3-pointer from 30 feet.
Clark scored or assisted on 79 points in that 106-89 victory, the most in
any game by any Division I player over the last 25 seasons, according to
ESPN Stats & Information.
And the reigning national player of the year might not be done etching her
name in the record books.
Clark could break Pete Maravich’s mark (3,667) for most career points in
Division I history for men and women. And she could pass Lynette Woodard,
who holds the AIAW major-college record with 3,649 points, set just before
the NCAA era.
Editor’s PicksClark sets scoring record with logo 3, puts up 4910dMichael VoepelWhat’s
next for Caitlin Clark? Pete Maravich’s NCAA record within reach11dKevin
PeltonIn ‘making extraordinary look routine,’ Caitlin Clark raises standard
for next generation11dAndrea Adelson2 Related
We’re tracking all of Clark’s milestones during the 2023-24 season. Through
Thursday’s game, Clark is averaging 32.1 points per game this season and is 51 points shy of breaking Maravich’s record. For her career, Clark has:
53 30-point games (including 16 this season), the most by a Division I
player in the past 25 seasons16 triple-doubles (including five this season), which ranks second in D-I
history behind Sabrina Ionescu (26)12 40-point games (including four this season), the most by any D-I player
over the past 25 seasons
Check back often as we’ll update Clark’s numbers every time Iowa plays.
All stats updated through Feb. 25.
play0:32Caitlin Clark calls decal signifying record shot ‘super special’Caitlin
Clark reacts to the “22 Clark” decal on Iowa’s court in the spot where she
hit her record-breaking shot to become the all-time leading women’s
basketball scorer.
Catching Plum
Plum closed her college career at Washington with 3,527 points, a record that stood until Feb. 15, when Clark took over
the women’s NCAA Division I scoring record. Here’s a look at the top 10:
1. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-2024): 3,617 2. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2013-2017): 3,527 3. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2014-2018): 3,402 4. Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 3,393 5. Brittney Griner, Baylor (2009-2013): 3,283 6. Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo/Syracuse (2019-2024): 3,279 7. Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-1989): 3,122 8. Lorri Baumann, Drake (1980-1984): 3,115 9. Jerica Coley, FIU (2010-2014): 3,107 10. Rachel Banham, Minnesota (2011-2016): 3,093
Is Maravich next?
How quickly could Clark catch Maravich’s scoring mark?Now that she has
passed Plum, we take a look at the scoring Caitlin Clark needs to average
to break Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I scoring record (3,667 points).
Iowa’s regular-season finale is March 3. The Big Ten tournament opens March
6, but the top four seeds have byes until March 8. DateOpponentPPG neededFeb. 28at Minnesota51.0 PPGMarch 3Ohio State25.5 PPG
She is a cultural phenomenon unlike anything we’ve seen in basketball, and
we won’t see anyone like @CaitlinClark22 again… pic.twitter.com/e2tYChzzfx— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) February 17, 2024
More on Clark
Clark makes ‘extraordinary look routine,’ raises standard for next
generation
Clark makes the extraordinary look routine and raises the standard for the
next generation, ESPN’s Andrea Adelson writes. Her legacy? Setting a record that will be broken.
With women’s record in hand, Clark takes aim at Maravich’s mark
Having surpassed Plum, Clark is closing in on Maravich’s Division I record
of 3,667 points. And the Iowa senior might soon hold the record for men and
women, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton writes.
When does Iowa play next?
Next game: Wednesday, Feb 28 at Minnesota, 9 p.m. ET
A look at the Hawkeyes’ schedule, with Clark’s line score from each game.
DATEOPPONENTMINFG3FGPTSREBASTNov. 6FDU, 102-46 win2311-174-928710Nov. 9Va
Tech, 80-76 win4013-315-164486Nov. 12Northern Iowa, 94-53
win316-132-5241011Nov. 16K-State, 65-58 loss379-322-162463Nov. 19Drake,
113-90 win3014-225-1135610Nov. 24Purdue FW, 98-59 win228-136-92938Nov.
25FGCU, 100-62 win267-144-82166Nov. 26K-State, 77-70 win3910-257-163256Dec.
2Bowling Green, 99-65 win3110-202-1124711Dec. 6Iowa State, 67-58
win3812-316-163594Dec. 10Wisconsin, 87-65 win3511-194-82895Dec. 16Cleveland
St, 104-75 win3013-219-163855Dec. 21Loyola Chicago, 98-69
win3612-214-12351710Dec. 30Minnesota, 94-71 win3313-228-1635510Jan.
2Michigan State, 76-73 win3714-348-204015Jan. 5Rutgers, 103-69
win2910-223-9291010Jan. 10Purdue, 96-71 win358-186-14261010Jan. 13Indiana,
84-57 win3410-216-1630511Jan. 16Wisconsin, 96-50 win338-186-143275Jan.
21Ohio State, 100-92 loss OT4312-257-184537Jan. 27Nebraska, 92-73
win3512-228-1538106Jan. 31Northwestern, 110-74 win3211-223-1235610Feb.
3Maryland, 93-85 win3913-297-1738612Feb. 8Penn State, 111-93
win388-234-1427515Feb. 11Nebraska, 82-79 loss3910-255-1531810Feb.
15Michigan, 106-89 win3716-319-1849513Feb. 22Indiana, 86-69
loss388-263-1624109Feb. 25Illinois, 101-85 win336-185-14241510Feb.
28MinnesotaMarch 3Ohio State
play1:10Caitlin Clark puts up 24 points in No. 4 Iowa’s lossCaitlin Clark puts up
24 points for Iowa, but it’s not enough in a loss to Indiana.
Recent news
Clark gets triple-double, spot memorialized on Carver-Hawkeye Arena floorBig Ten tournament sold out in advance for first timeClark held in check as Indiana upsets IowaIowa’s Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA women’s hoops scoring recordPraise pours in for Clark after scoring record broken
play1:06Caitlin Clark’s journey to taking the scoring crownCheck out Iowa star
Caitlin Clark’s journey to becoming the all-time leading scorer in women’s
college basketball.
What other records is Clark closing in on?
Clark’s career numbersIowa senior Caitlin Clark broke the Big Ten mark for
career assists on Dec. 30 and for career points on Jan. 31. She broke the
women’s NCAA scoring mark on Feb. 15 — and has a chance to break more. ClarkBig Ten recordDivision I
recordPoints3,56173,6173,617Assists1,0371,0371,3073-pointers495497537
Most career points per game
Clark’s career scoring average is on pace to be the second-most by a player
in Division I history (minimum 1,500 points).
Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-1989): 28.4 PPGCaitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-2024): 28.2 PPG Sandra Hodge, New Orleans (1980-1984): 26.7 PPG Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (2009-2013): 26.7 PPG Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 26.3 PPG
Most points in a season
Clark’s scoring average has improved each season. She scored 799 points in
30 games as a freshman (26.6 PPG) and 863 points in 32 games (27.0 PPG) as
a sophomore. As a junior last season, Clark tallied 1,055 points over 38
games (27.8 PPG). Clark could set the Division I single-season points
record as a senior. She has 900 points this season.
2016-17, Kelsey Plum, Washington: 1,109 2022-23, Maddy Siegrist, Villanova: 1,081 2000-01, Jackie Stiles, Missouri State: 1,062 2022-23, Caitlin Clark, Iowa: 1,055
Hottest ticket in town — at home or on the road
$1,000 floor seats and sellout crowds: Inside the Caitlin Clark road show
Long lines, sellout crowds and extra security are expected every time Clark and the Hawkeyes leave Iowa City, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg writes. “There’s a little bit more than a
basketball game happening. This feels like an event,” said an administrator
at Northwestern, where some fans lined up and waited in line for over seven
hours to get the best seat to see Clark play.
There have been some great offensive players in WCBB the last 20 years
(Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, EDD, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum). I
believe @CaitlinClark22 is the best player on the offensive end since Diana
Taurasi. pic.twitter.com/mlPQHmypms— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) January 8, 2024
More Clark milestones?
Before Thursday’s career-high 49 points, Clark’s previous high was 46
points in a game her sophomore season Feb. 6, 2022. Clark scored 44 points in Iowa’s win over Virginia Tech last November and 45 in an overtime loss
to Ohio State on Jan. 21. On Thursday, she shot 16-for-31 from the field,
9-for-18 on 3-pointers and hit all eight of her free throw attempts against
Michigan.
Additionally, for her career, Clark:
is the only player since she entered college basketball in 2020-21 to have
a 35-point, 10-assist game; Clark has done it 10 timesis the first player in D-I history to have 3,000 career points and 1,000
career assistsis the first D-I women’s player in the past 25 years to score 40 points and
hit a winning buzzer-beater in the same gameis the second D-I women’s player in the past 25 years to score at least 35
points in four consecutive gamesis the first player in D-I history with 900 points and 300 assists in a
seasonis the first player in D-I history with 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750
assistsled Division I in assists per game in each of the past two seasons
Clark projected as No. 1 WNBA draft pick, but …
WNBA mock draft: Clark is No. 1 — if she declares
The Indiana Fever won the WNBA draft lottery in December, and Clark is the projected No. 1 overall pick in ESPN’s mock draft on Feb. 22.
Clark turned 22 in January and is eligible for the April 15 draft. However,
Clark — and the rest of this year’s college seniors — could return for a
fifth NCAA season in 2024-25 because of the COVID-19 waiver. And Clark has said she likely won’t make a decision on declaring for the draft until Iowa’s
season ends. (Players have 48 hours following the conclusion of their final
game of the season to declare for the draft.)
“I think it’s very similar to my college decision. It’s like I’m in the
recruiting process again,” she said. “The biggest thing is I’m just going
to trust my gut.”
WNBA draft explained: Why Caitlin Clark can declare — or stay at Iowa
If @CaitlinClark22 gets drafted to the @IndianaFever this summer, I believe
she will put up MVP-caliber numbers as a rookie. While her opponents will
be at a different skill level than in college, her teammates will be at
another level as well. Her game translates.— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) February 4, 2024
Source: Caitlin Clark has broken Kelsey Plum’s women’s NCAA career scoring record. Now the Iowa senior sets sights on Pete Maravich’s all-time mark.
