Caitlin Clark guide: Iowa senior's pursuit of NCAA scoring record
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 NCAA career scoring mark during the 2023-24 season.
Clark is averaging 32.1 points per game this season and is eight points shy of breaking the record. For her career, Clark has:
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52 30-point games (including 15 this season), the most by a Division I player in the last 25 seasons
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15 triple-doubles (including four this season), which ranks second in D-I history behind Sabrina Ionescu (26)
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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 Feb. 11.
0:46
Caitlin Clark dodges record talk: We have to stop blowing leads
Caitlin Clark says she’s more focused on helping her team win than setting the NCAA women’s scoring record.
Chasing Plum
Kelsey Plum closed her college career at Washington with 3,527 points, the NCAA Division I scoring record. Here’s a look at the top 10:
1. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2013-17): 3,527
2. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-24): 3,520
3. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2014-18): 3,402
4. Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 3,393
5. Brittney Griner, Baylor (2009-13): 3,283
6. Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo/Syracuse (2019-24): 3,213
7. Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-89): 3,122
8. Lorri Baumann, Drake (1980-84): 3,115
9. Jerica Coley, FIU (2010-14): 3,107
10. Rachel Banham, Minnesota (2011-16): 3,093
The line for @iowawbb at @HuskerWBB is several city blocks long, guessing close to 1,000 people 2.5 hours before game @caitlinclark22 @espnw @espn
Game has been sold out for 6 weeks. pic.twitter.com/vjmsU9frBz— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) February 11, 2024
The Caitlin Clark Effect
$1,000 floor seats and sellout crowds: Inside the Caitlin Clark road show
Long lines, sellout crowds and extra security are expected every time Caitlin 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.
When does Iowa play next?
Next game: Thursday, Feb. 15 vs. Michigan, 8 p.m. ET
A look at the Hawkeyes’ schedule, with Caitlin Clark’s line score from each game.
2:06
Caitlin Clark’s 35-point performance pushes Iowa to blowout win over Northwestern
Caitlin Clark moves into second place on the NCAA’s all-time leading scorers list in women’s basketball as Iowa cruises past Northwestern.
Recent news
0:29
Caitlin Clark moves into second place in all-time NCAA scoring with layup
Caitlin Clark moves up to 3,403 career points, passing Kelsey Mitchell for 2nd in D-I history in career points with a left-handed layup.
What other records is Clark closing in on?
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): 28.2 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 803 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
More on Clark
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
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) January 8, 2024
What is Clark’s career high?
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:
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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
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is the first player in D-I history to have 3,000 career points and 1,000 career assists
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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
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is the second D-I women’s player in the last 25 years to score at least 35 points in four consecutive games
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is the first player in D-I history with 900 points and 300 assists in a season
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is the first player in D-I history with 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists
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led Division I in assists per game in each of the last 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 Caitlin 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
