Caitlin Clark ultimate guide: The Iowa senior’s pursuit of the NCAA scoring record

Credit to Author: ESPN| Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2024 17:03:16 EST

Caitlin Clark‘s junior season at Iowa was epic. In leading the Hawkeyes to their first Final Four in 30 years, the point guard became the first player in NCAA Division I history with 900 points and 300 assists in a season, then swept every national player of the year award.

This season, Clark has another shot at etching her name in the record books: The 6-foot-0 senior could break Kelsey Plum’s mark for most career points in Division I history.

We’re tracking all of Clark’s milestones and pursuit of the all-time scoring mark — and several other Big Ten and NCAA records — during the 2023-24 season.

Clark is averaging 32.0 points per game this season. For her career, Clark has:

49 30-point games (including 12 this season), the most by a Division I player in the last 25 seasons

15 triple-doubles (including four this season), which ranks second in D-I history behind Sabrina Ionescu (26)

11 40-point games (including three this season), the most by any D-I player over the last 25 seasons

Check back often as we’ll update Clark’s numbers every time Iowa plays.

All stats updated through Jan. 27.

Caitlin Clark scores 32 points as she passes Brittney Griner on the NCAA scoring list in Iowa’s win over Wisconsin.

Kelsey Plum closed her college career at Washington with 3,527 points, the NCAA Division I scoring record. Through her most recent game on Jan. 27, Caitlin Clark has 3,389 points. Here’s a look at the top 10:

1. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2013-17): 3,527
2. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2014-18): 3,402
3. Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 3,393
4. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-24): 3,389
5. Brittney Griner, Baylor (2009-13): 3,283
6. Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-89): 3,122
7. Lorri Baumann, Drake (1980-84): 3,115
8. Jerica Coley, FIU (2010-14): 3,107
9. Rachel Banham, Minnesota (2011-16): 3,093
10. Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2018-23): 3,060

A look at the scoring Caitlin Clark needs to average to break Kelsey Plum’s NCAA Division I scoring record before the regular season wraps up on March 3.

I wonder how many shots she makes daily? That needs to be talked about more. Not that she makes them but how much work goes into it! Like is she just gifted? 🤯 because you can’t make this up. https://t.co/wRM086B4UM

A look at the Hawkeyes’ schedule, with Caitlin Clark’s line score from each game.

Next game: Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Northwestern, 8 p.m. ET

Caitlin Clark scores 26 points and adds 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Iowa’s win over Purdue.

Clark passes Griner for fourth place on NCAA scoring list

Clark tallies second consecutive triple-double

Clark, Reese, Bueckers top Wooden Award midseason list

Clark scores 40, hits logo 3-pointer at buzzer to beat Michigan State

Clark moves into fifth on NCAA D-I career scoring list

Clark records 13th triple-double in win over Loyola Chicago

‘Dream come true’: Clark inks NIL Gatorade deal

Caitlin Clark grabs her 10th rebound, then launches a pass to Gabbie Marshall, whose 3-pointer rattles in for Clark’s 10th assist.

Iowa senior Caitlin Clark broke the Big Ten mark for career assists on Dec. 30 and has a chance to break more all-time conference records and at least one NCAA Division I career mark.

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 (1985-89): 28.4 PPG
Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-24): 28.0 PPG
Sandra Hodge, New Orleans (1980-84): 26.7 PPG
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (2009-13): 26.7 PPG
Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 26.3 PPG

Most points in a season

Caitlin 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. Clark has 672 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

Who are the top 25 players in women’s college basketball?

Twenty-one ESPN analysts, broadcasters and reporters voted in December to determine ESPN’s updated player rankings. Caitlin Clark, who was a unanimous No. 1, led the way, but nine players, including three freshmen, made their debut in the 2023-24 list.

Caitlin Clark took the sports world by storm: What’s the encore?

Caitlin Clark led Iowa to new heights and became a sports superhero in the Midwest with one of the game’s greatest NCAA tournament runs. In November, Michael Voepel examined what’s next for the senior.

Why Caitlin Clark is the most exciting player in March Madness

Steph Curry, Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu and more break down their favorite parts of Caitlin Clark’s game, how the Iowa star hits logo 3s and tallies triple-doubles.

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

While Caitlin Clark scored 44 points in Iowa’s win over Virginia Tech in November and 45 in an overtime loss to Ohio State on Jan. 21, her career high came on Feb. 6, 2022, as a sophomore. Clark scored 46 points, hitting 14-for-29 from the field and 6-for-13 on 3-pointers, in a 98-90 loss at Michigan. She also had 10 assists in the game and went 12 of 14 on free throws.

Additionally, for her career, Clark:

is the first D-I women’s player in the last 25 years to score 40 points and hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in the same game

is the second D-I women’s player in the last 25 years to score at least 35 points in four consecutive games

is the first player in D-I history with 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists

led Division I in assists per game in each of the last two seasons

WNBA mock draft: Clark is No. 1 — if she declares

The Indiana Fever won the WNBA draft lottery in December, and Caitlin Clark is the projected No. 1 overall pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft.

Clark turns 22 in February 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
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