NCAA Women's basketball phenomenon Caitlin Clark continues to rise in the history books, this time surpassing 3,000 career points against Iowa State Wednesday night.
Caitlin Clark is her.
If you didn't know, Iowa State had homecourt advantage for their matchup against rivals Iowa Hawkeyes. While Cyclone fans chanted "overrated" towards Clark, she kept her poise. Clark then hit a major milestone, becoming just the 15th woman in NCAA Basketball to surpass 3,000 NCAA career points. One of the most exceptional athletes to ever hit the hardwood, Clark is the first player in NCAA history with 3,000 points, 750 assists, and 750 rebounds. With those statistics, she becomes the first player in Division 1 basketball history, including both men's and women's to achieve such a milestone. Truly a sensational hooper, it's safe to say Caitlin Clark is in a league of her own.
The moment.
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) December 7, 2023
HISTORY!!!!!
@CaitlinClark22
only player ever with 3000 points 750+assists 750+rebounds
Mom, Dad and Brother love it!!! pic.twitter.com/NGFUGVMVuL
While Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum still holds the NCAA D1 women's basketball scoring record with 3,527 points, at 3,013 total points, Clark has the chance to shatter Plums record. Compiling 1,055 total points in the 2022-2023 season, the rising star is more than likely to top the leaderboard, with 20 regular season games remaining. Trailing Plum by 514 points, if consistent, the guard would need to average 25.7 points for the next 20 games.
That means, Clark would pass Kelsey Mitchell, Jackie Stiles, Brittney Griner, Patricia Hoskins, Lorri Bauman, Jerica Coley, Rachel Banham, Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Cheryl Miller, on the leaderboard.
👀Caitlin Clark is HER.
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) December 7, 2023
She surpasses 3⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣career points, and becomes just the 15th woman in NCAA to hit the achievement. pic.twitter.com/EpjbqeRgHf
With that achievement in site, Clark has been drawing sellout crowds, which included over 50,000 fans at a scrimmage preseason. Known for her prodigious three-point shooting, Clark has put her rebounding and flashy passing skills on full display. While conceding to the LSU Tigers in last year's championship game, Clark and the Hawkeyes are currently ranked as the No.4 seed. While the basketball speaks for itself, the "Clark effect" has been real. Her swagger, the way she handles herself, is contagious. As she continues to gather respect from celebrities, former WNBA star Sue Bird and actor Jason Sudeikis were in attendance against Bowling Green.
On Wednesday evening, the Iowa Hawkeyes Womens basketball team defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 67-58. In dramatic fashion, Clark finished with 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, on 37.5 percent three-point shooting. Up 40-39 over the Cyclones with 6:11 left to go in the third quarter, Clark notoriously pulled a deep three-pointer in transition to surpass 3,000 career points. Humble as ever, No. 22 trotted back and clapped as the crowed went into a frenzy.
Mainly a scrappy game, especially in the second quarter, Iowa went on a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter, after the Cyclones took a two-point lead. Averaging 29.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists, the Hawkeye remains the 2023-2024 scoring leader.
And for the Hawkeyes, guard, she didn't have a clue how close she was to the achievement until watching a segment on ESPN days prior.
"I obviously didn't know I was going to eclipse 3,000 points until a few days ago, I was watching ESPN, " Clark told reporters. No. 22 stated she learned of the news when watching the South Carolina game, announced by Debbie Antonelli.
"It's cool, especially to do it here," said Clark post-game. "I have a lot of family in attendance. But it was kind of same when I broke the Iowa scoring record. We keep playing. We don't celebrate in the timeout. That's not what it's about."
While she acknowledged her achievements, Clark made it known winning is a priority, and scoring 3,000 points in a loss wouldn't be the ideal situation.
A generational talent, Clark has been primed for another colossal season, in what could be her final year with Iowa. While she's publicly stated she's "going to trust her gut, Clark has the option to return for the 2024-2025 season of she decides to forgo the WNBA Draft. Regardless of what team you support, we cannot ignore the impact Clark has imprinted on the game, especially women's basketball.
RELATED: The WNBA Draft Lottery will take place on Dec. 10 - Ballislife.com
With the Draft Lottery set for Dec. 10, the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks all have the opportunity to secure the No.1 pick.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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