Clark ultimate guide: Iowa senior's pursuit of the NCAA scoring record

February 16, 2024 ndowd

Feb 15, 2024, 11:20 PM ET

Caitlin Clark has done it. On Thursday, the 6-foot Iowa senior scored a career-high and program-record 49 points to break Kelsey Plum’s record for most career points in women’s NCAA history. Plum set the mark in 2017 with 3,527 points. Clark had 3,528 with 7:48 to play in the first period after scoring the Hawkeyes’ first eight points. She scored the record-breaking points on — what else? — a logo 3-pointer from 30 feet.

Clark scored or assisted on 79 points in Thursday’s 106-89 victory, the most in any game by any Division I player over the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

And the reigning national player of the year might not be done etching her name in the record books.

Clark could break Pete Maravich’s mark (3,667) for most career points in Division I history for men and women. And she could pass Lynette Woodard, who holds the AIAW major-college record with 3,649 points, set just before the NCAA era.

We’re tracking all of Clark’s milestones during the 2023-24 season. Through Thursday’s game, Clark is averaging 32.8 points per game this season and is 99 points shy of breaking Maravich’s record. For her career, Clark has:

53 30-point games (including 16 this season), the most by a Division I player in the past 25 seasons
15 triple-doubles (including four this season), which ranks second in D-I history behind Sabrina Ionescu (26)
12 40-point games (including four this season), the most by any D-I player over the past 25 seasons

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

All stats updated through Feb. 15.

Caitlin Clark’s journey to taking the scoring crown

Check out Iowa star Caitlin Clark’s journey to becoming the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball.

Catching Plum

Plum closed her college career at Washington with 3,527 points, a record that stood until Thursday, when Clark took over the women’s NCAA Division I scoring record. Here’s a look at the top 10:

1. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-2024): 3,569
2. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2013-2017): 3,527
3. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2014-2018): 3,402
4. Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 3,393
5. Brittney Griner, Baylor (2009-2013): 3,283
6. Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo/Syracuse (2019-2024): 3,224
7. Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-1989): 3,122
8. Lorri Baumann, Drake (1980-1984): 3,115
9. Jerica Coley, FIU (2010-2014): 3,107
10. Rachel Banham, Minnesota (2011-2016): 3,093

Is Maravich next?

More on Clark

Clark makes ‘extraordinary look routine,’ raises standard for next generation

Clark makes the extraordinary look routine and raises the standard for the next generation, ESPN’s Andrea Adelson writes. Her legacy? Setting a record that will be broken.

With women’s record in hand, Clark takes aim at Maravich’s mark

Having surpassed Plum, Clark is closing in on Maravich’s Division I record of 3,667 points. And the Iowa senior might soon hold the record for men and women, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton writes.

When does Iowa play next?

Next game: Thursday, Feb. 22 at Indiana, 8 p.m. ET

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

DATE OPPONENT MIN FG 3FG PTS REB AST

Nov. 6 FDU, 102-46 win 23 11-17 4-9 28 7 10

Nov. 9 Va Tech, 80-76 win 40 13-31 5-16 44 8 6

Nov. 12 Northern Iowa, 94-53 win 31 6-13 2-5 24 10 11

Nov. 16 K-State, 65-58 loss 37 9-32 2-16 24 6 3

Nov. 19 Drake, 113-90 win 30 14-22 5-11 35 6 10

Nov. 24 Purdue FW, 98-59 win 22 8-13 6-9 29 3 8

Nov. 25 FGCU, 100-62 win 26 7-14 4-8 21 6 6

Nov. 26 K-State, 77-70 win 39 10-25 7-16 32 5 6

Dec. 2 Bowling Green, 99-65 win 31 10-20 2-11 24 7 11

Dec. 6 Iowa State, 67-58 win 38 12-31 6-16 35 9 4

Dec. 10 Wisconsin, 87-65 win 35 11-19 4-8 28 9 5

Dec. 16 Cleveland St, 104-75 win 30 13-21 9-16 38 5 5

Dec. 21 Loyola Chicago, 98-69 win 36 12-21 4-12 35 17 10

Dec. 30 Minnesota, 94-71 win 33 13-22 8-16 35 5 10

Jan. 2 Michigan State, 76-73 win 37 14-34 8-20 40 1 5

Jan. 5 Rutgers, 103-69 win 29 10-22 3-9 29 10 10

Jan. 10 Purdue, 96-71 win 35 8-18 6-14 26 10 10

Jan. 13 Indiana, 84-57 win 34 10-21 6-16 30 5 11

Jan. 16 Wisconsin, 96-50 win 33 8-18 6-14 32 7 5

Jan. 21 Ohio State, 100-92 loss OT 43 12-25 7-18 45 3 7

Jan. 27 Nebraska, 92-73 win 35 12-22 8-15 38 10 6

Jan. 31 Northwestern, 110-74 win 32 11-22 3-12 35 6 10

Feb. 3 Maryland, 93-85 win 39 13-29 7-17 38 6 12

Feb. 8 Penn State, 111-93 win 38 8-23 4-14 27 5 15

Feb. 11 Nebraska, 82-79 loss 39 10-25 5-15 31 8 10

Feb. 15 Michigan, 106-89 win 37 16-31 9-18 49 5 13

Feb. 22 Indiana

Feb. 25 Illinois

Feb. 28 Minnesota

March 3 Ohio State

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Caitlin Clark scores career-high 49 points on historic night

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark drops a career-high 49 points while also becoming the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball in the Hawkeyes’ win.

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1:58

Caitlin Clark on record-breaking 3: ‘That’s the only way to do it’

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark expresses her emotions after becoming the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball history.

What other records is Clark closing in on?

Clark Big Ten record Division I record

Points 3,569 3,569 3,569

Assists 1,018 1,018 1,307

3-pointers 487 497 537

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 (1985-1989): 28.4 PPG
Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-2024): 28.3 PPG
Sandra Hodge, New Orleans (1980-1984): 26.7 PPG
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (2009-2013): 26.7 PPG
Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 26.3 PPG

Most points in a season

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. She has 852 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

Hottest ticket in town — at home or on the road

$1,000 floor seats and sellout crowds: Inside the Caitlin Clark road show

Long lines, sellout crowds and extra security are expected every time Clark and the Hawkeyes leave Iowa City, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg writes. “There’s a little bit more than a basketball game happening. This feels like an event,” said an administrator at Northwestern, where some fans lined up and waited in line for over seven hours to get the best seat to see Clark play.

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

— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) January 8, 2024

More Clark milestones?

Before Thursday’s career-high 49 points, Clark’s previous high was 46 points in a game her sophomore season Feb. 6, 2022. Clark scored 44 points in Iowa’s win over Virginia Tech last November and 45 in an overtime loss to Ohio State on Jan. 21. On Thursday, she shot 16-for-31 from the field, 9-for-18 on 3-pointers and hit all eight of her free throw attempts against Michigan.

Additionally, for her career, Clark:

is the only player since she entered college basketball in 2020-21 to have a 35-point, 10-assist game; Clark has done it 10 times

is the first player in D-I history to have 3,000 career points and 1,000 career assists

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

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

is the first player in D-I history with 900 points and 300 assists in a season

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 past two seasons

Clark projected as No. 1 WNBA draft pick, but …

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

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

Clark turned 22 in January 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.”

If @CaitlinClark22 gets drafted to the @IndianaFever this summer, I believe she will put up MVP-caliber numbers as a rookie. While her opponents will be at a different skill level than in college, her teammates will be at another level as well. Her game translates.

— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) February 4, 2024