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Michael Vaupel, ESPN.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark has packed arenas all season, and Thursday's sold-out crowd got to watch the hometown hero make sports history. The Iowa State Hawkeyes guard broke the NCAA women's basketball career scoring record to the delight of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd.
And she did it as soon as possible.
Clark entered Iowa's game against No. 4 Michigan with 3,520 points, but needed eight points to break the 3,527 point mark set by Washington's Kelsey Plumb from 2013 to 2017.
Clark made a layup from the opening tip. And she hit a 3-point shot from her favorite spot on the court, her left side. Another 3-pointer from the same side caused havoc. It took her 2 minutes and 12 seconds to become the record holder.
Clark and Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bruder said heading into the game that they did not expect play to be stopped when the record was made. But Iowa called a timeout, and Clark's teammates shared a jubilant group hug with her on the court. Clark's wide smile told the story of the night. The pursuit of records, which she said had never felt like a burden to her, is now something to celebrate.
“It's cool. It's cool to be in the same area as a lot of really, really good players,” Clark said in a television interview at halftime. “I’m lucky to have this job because I have really good teammates, really good coaches, and a great support system around me.”
But she didn't just break the record. Clark scored 23 points on 8-of-10 field goals and 5-of-7 3-pointers in the first quarter. This was the most points she scored in the first quarter of her Iowa career and the second-most points of any quarter of her career. She scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of a loss to the University of Michigan on February 6, 2022.
“I'm just grateful. I'm grateful to be surrounded by people and to be in a city that supports women's basketball so much,” Clark said. “Surround yourself with my best friends and people who want to see me be great and push me to be great every day.”
Clark could reach even more scoring milestones in his senior season. The AIAW large school women's record for points is 3,649, set by Lynette Woodard of the University of Kansas from 1977 to 1981, just before her NCAA days. The NCAA men's record is 3,667 points, set by LSU's Pete Maravich from 1967 to 1970, before freshman eligibility for college basketball.
Clark is already the first Division I women's player to reach 3,000 points and 1,000 assists. But her records and milestones are only part of Clark's story. She is a generational talent who is increasing the popularity of the sport.
“My favorite athletes are those who are champions in their sport and champions in life, and Caitlin Clark is one of those athletes,” tennis champion and women's sports advocate Billie Jean King told ESPN. Told.
“She's the hottest star in basketball, not just in women's basketball, but in basketball as a whole, and that comes with a lot of responsibility as a leader on and off the court. She understands that, and that's her reason. She will have the opportunity to become one of the best athletes in her sport and serve as a role model for future generations. ”
Despite having a lot on her shoulders at just 22 years old, Clark seems to be having the time of her life. The same passion she first brought to the court as a college freshman in 2020, when games were played in mostly empty arenas because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He plays with confidence and a fun flair.
“The Caitlin Clark Show'' is now one of the hottest tickets in the sports world. Fans of all ages chant her name and wear her No. 22 jersey. Parents drive their children hundreds of miles to watch Clark. Police will escort her to and from the arena on game day and on and off the court.
Changes to NCAA rules regarding name, image and likeness allowed Clark to appear in national advertising campaigns. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes praised her play while speaking to the media leading up to her Super Bowl. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, widely considered the best shooter in NBA history, praised Clark's shooting form and her poise.
“Kaitlyn is special,” said Curry, who is one of the players Clark modeled her game on, along with WNBA players Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Plumb and Sabrina Ionescu. “The record speaks for itself and it's cool. From a scoring standpoint, from a shooting standpoint, just doing what I do. In terms of being an inspiration. , she can choose anyone, if she models anything in her game.'' After me, I don't take that for granted. ”
ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, the 1995 UConn national champion and 1996 Olympian, said Clark and Curry have similar qualities that have made them successful and have a wide range of fans. He said it was fascinating.
“Caitlin is the whole package,” Lobo said. “She's playing the game in a way I've never seen a female player before. She takes so many shots from that distance and I've never seen a player shoot from that distance. Never happened.” [a high percentage].
“And she's like Stephen Curry. He's charismatic, but physically he's not a giant. So all the kids can picture themselves as Caitlin Clarke. It's not like, “You have to be 6 or 4 or 6 to play like she does.'' 5.'' Caitlin is 6-0, but the kind of stuff she does. You don't really have to be that tall to try to do that. ”
The West Des Moines, Iowa, native chose to stay in her home state and attend college, leading Iowa State to the past two Big Ten Tournament championships and a berth in the Women's Final Four in 2023. Last season, she broke the NCAA Tournament scoring record (191 points), became the first in NCAA postseason history to record a 40-point triple-double, and led Iowa State to an upset of undefeated No. 1 overall seed and defending champion University of South Carolina. led to. in the national semifinals.
Iowa State lost to LSU in the championship game, drawing a record 9.9 million viewers on ABC. With his NCAA Tournament run in 2023, Clark's popularity grew even more. That number has continued to rise since the Hawkeyes' preseason game at Iowa State's football stadium in October drew a women's basketball single-game attendance record of 55,646 fans. .
“Sport needs superstars,” Olympic and Women's World Cup soccer champion Julie Foudy told ESPN. “Mia [Hamm] He was our superstar. She was shy and introverted. Caitlin seems more comfortable dealing with all the attention.
“But Mia then, just like Caitlin now, recognized the importance and significance of her popularity, not just as an individual but as a collective, and that many other women recognized her Also about how you can benefit from stardom.
Clark could stay at Iowa for another season due to the 2020-2021 exemption due to COVID-19, or he could declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft and be assured of being the No. 1 pick. There is a possibility that it will happen. Clark said he will wait until the end of this season to make that decision.
For now, she's focused on winning the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships for Iowa State and returning to the women's Final Four. And every time she scores, she will be adding to her own NCAA record.
Whether Clark goes to the WNBA this year or stays at Iowa for another season, Lobo believes he can maintain the momentum that has made the sport more popular.
“Caitlyn is calm and balanced. She has a magnetic personality,” Lobo said. “There’s a lot about her game that a lot of people can relate to and love.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
