University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark has reached another milestone in her college career, breaking the NCAA all-time scoring record, a record untouched for nearly 50 years — until now.
Clark broke the all-time scoring record Sunday against Ohio State.
The 22-year-old now holds 3,668 points and counting, surpassing “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who scored 3,667 points while playing at Louisiana State University in 1970.
Clark broke the NCAA women’s record — which was previously held by former University of Washington star Kelsey Plum, who racked up 3,527 points — in her game against Michigan on Feb. 15.
Four things to know about Caitlin Clark’s career thus far
Before breaking the NCAA all-time women’s scoring record, Clark recorded 1,000 career assists in her game against the University of Nebraska–Lincoln on Feb. 11, becoming just the sixth player in NCAA women’s basketball history to do so.
Clark has so far secured brand endorsement deals — thanks to NIL, which allows college athletes to be paid for such endorsements — with Gatorade, Nike, State Farm and Buick, totaling nearly $800,000.
She celebrated her 22nd birthday this year by gifting her teammates new sneakers.
Despite being eligible to play for the Hawkeyes for another season due to the COVID-19 waiver her first year, Clark declared for the 2024 WNBA draft, announcing the news in a social media post on Thursday. She is projected to be the No. 1 draft pick by the Indiana Fever.
A new era of women’s sports
The Iowa basketball player gained recognition last season with jaw-dropping three-pointers, many of which were shot nearly from half-court, landing Clark and the Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA finals.
Although Iowa lost to Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers, the game’s ending was just the beginning. Clark’s and Reese’s competitive spirits and dominance on the court re-ignited women’s basketball.
In this April 2, 2023, file photo, Angel Reese of the LSU Lady Tigers and Caitlin Clark and Gabbie Marshall of the Iowa Hawkeyes vie for position under the basket during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship, in Dallas, Texas.
Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images, FILE
The 2023 NCAA finals was the most-viewed NCAA women’s basketball game in history, with over 9 million viewers.
Since then, game tickets have soared — some reaching as high as $5,000 — and fans are frequently lined up outside college gymnasiums to see the collegiate stars play.
The newfound interest has also reached the pros: The WNBA announced record-breaking viewership and attendance following the 2022-2023 season.
A talented group
While Clark has become a high-achieving basketball star at the collegiate level, she stands alongside a talented and well-decorated group of stars.
Dyaisha Fair of the Syracuse Orange puts up a shot during the second half of the game against the NC State Wolfpack at Reynolds Coliseum, on Feb. 29, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lance King/Getty Images
In February, Syracuse University guard Dyaisha Fair became the fifth all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball, surpassing former Baylor University star Brittney Griner.
On the West Coast, Juju Watkins, a freshman center at the University of Southern California, is breaking records, too.
Southern California Trojans guard JuJu Watkins dribbles the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes during a NCAA college women’s basketball game, on Feb. 23, 2024, in Los Angeles.
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In her freshman season, Watkins delivered 11 30-point games in a single season, a 35-year-old record set by another basketball legend and former Trojan, Cheryl Miller. Watkins also owned a 51-point career-high performance against Stanford this season.
Like Clark, an Iowa native, Watkins chose to stay in her home state and build from within.
Source: abc news
