Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA women’s basketball all-time scoring record on Thursday.
Here’s what you need to know about the Iowa women’s basketball superstar’s achievement, why it’s significant and how she did it:
What is Caitlin Clark’s scoring record?
Clark’s career points scored total is now the most for any women’s basketball player in NCAA history, a remarkable achievement that ranks near the top of any previous individual feat in her sport.
Clark is up to 3,568 career points after her program record 49-point performance on Thursday vs. Michigan.
When did Caitlin Clark break the scoring record?
Clark broke the record in the first quarter of Iowa’s matchup vs. Michigan on Feb. 15, 2024. She was on fire and scored 23 points in the first quarter before finishing with a program-record 49 points in the game.
How did Caitlin Clark break the scoring record?
Clark broke the record via a signature logo 3-pointer, capping a red-hot start to her team’s home game vs. Michigan.
Clark got to this point through consistent and prolific scoring, which began during her freshman season in 2020-21. She’s always had an effective jump shot, deep shooting range, ability to get to the basket, athleticism and high basketball IQ.
Whose scoring record did Caitlin Clark beat?
The previous all-time scoring record was 3,527 points by Kelsey Plum, who played at Washington from 2013-17 before enjoying an extremely successful WNBA career with the Las Vegas Aces.
Can Caitlin Clark break more records?
Yes. Clark is on pace to break Pete Maravich‘s NCAA all-time scoring record (3,667 points) by the end of the season.
She is also chasing Lynette Woodard‘s AIAW women’s basketball scoring record (3,649 points), which Woodard set at Kansas in 1981 before women’s sports were sanctioned by the NCAA.
How many points does Caitlin Clark average per game?
Currently, Clark is averaging a career-high 32.4 points per game this season, a 4.6 PPG increase from last year.
For her career, Clark has averaged 28.1 PPG and increased her scoring output every subsequent season since averaging 26.6 PPG as a freshman in 2020-21.
How many years has Caitlin Clark played in college?
Contrary to recent comments made by former women’s basketball player Sheryl Swoops, Clark has only played the standard four years of college basketball and turned 22 years old on Jan. 22.
In fact, it only took her 126 career games to break the scoring record that Plum set in 139 games.
Why is Caitlin Clark so good?
Clark is extremely skilled, athletic, intelligent and competitive on the basketball court, factors that, when combined with a team that allows her to run the offense, have led her to this achievement.
At 6-feet tall, she has the size and length to shoot over defenders and finish at the rim. Her ball-handling skills are also effective and she has multiple go-to moves that she executes in key situations.
She particularly loves utilizing a behind-the-back dribble and shooting from the left wing after a stepback.
Clark has also learned to adapt to various defensive game plans, which puts opponents in difficult situations when deciding how to guard her. Teams cannot consistently double-team her because her elite passing ability and her teammates’ shooting skill lead to easy points, and guarding her 1-on-1 is a difficult task for even the country’s best defenders.
Is Caitlin Clark a ball hog?
No. On the contrary, she’s one of the best passers in the nation in addition to her legendary scoring ability. She frequently produces highlight bounce passes, particularly in transition.
Clark leads the NCAA in assists per game (7.9) and total assists (182) this season, and has averaged 8.0 assists per game for her career.
Who is the best women’s basketball player ever?
In college, Clark is certainly in the conversation, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
But there are many current and former professional women’s basketball players whom Clark will be competing with when she enters the WNBA, and there is no guarantee that she will have similar success at the next level.
Is this Caitlin Clark’s last year of college?
Clark has one more year of eligibility remaining because of the extra year that was granted to college athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as of now, she has not definitively expressed her intentions to stay or go to the WNBA after the 2023-24 season.
Which WNBA team will Clark play for?
If Clark does enter the 2024 WNBA draft, she will be heavily considered to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever.
The draft will take place on April 15.
Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at @GusMartin_DMR.
