Caitlin Clark became the very first NCAA Divison I women's or men's basketball player to score 3000 points, 750 rebounds, and 750 assists in her collegiate career earlier this month. She is also the first player in Iowa's history to score 3000 points.
This is not her first time making or breaking historical records. Her explosive three-point shooting style has led Clark to collect many awards in the game of women's college basketball. Earlier this season, when Iowa played Drake, Clark surpassed the NCAA record of games where a player scored 30 points or more, a record previously held by Kelsey Plum. As of December 12, the record stands at 41 games.
In last season's March Madness tournament, she scored 191 points, the most ever scored in women's or men's basketball at the Division I level. In Iowa's Elite Eight game against Louisville, Clark also became the first basketball player at this level to score a 40-point triple-double, also putting up 12 rebounds and 10 assists in that game. Clark even dropped 40 points in back-to-back games in the tournament, the first to do so in the women's tournament.
Clark averages 29.5 points a game, which is first place in the NCAA, and puts up 7.4 assists a game, ranking her fifth in the nation. Her wide shooting range has gained attention across the country, even capturing those unfamiliar with college basketball. Her ability to move flawlessly off of screens set by her teammates, drive to the hoop, and be confident in her shooting abilities sets her apart from most others in the NCAA. She has propelled the Iowa Hawkeyes to a No. 4 spot in the AP women's basketball rankings.
Clark will be eligible to enter the 2024 WNBA draft after this season, but she also has the option to take a fifth year and play as a graduate student. Whichever she decides, Clark will most definitely leave a mark on women's basketball, and even basketball as a whole.
Comments