Queen of the Court: Caitlin Clark Makes History
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark has been making a lot of noise in women's sports in recent years, and on Thursday night she was mentioned as well. Clark became the NCAA women's scoring leader after scoring 8 points early in the game against Michigan. She did so in front of a home crowd in Iowa City.
Who is Caitlin Clark?
Caitlin Clark, an American college basketball player, is a three-time gold medalist and has won numerous awards, including the Honda Sports Award, John R. Wooden Award, AP Player of the Year, and Naismith College Player of the Year. She leads all-time in 30-point games in men's and women's college basketball and is the first player in Division I history to record 3,300+ points, 900+ assists, and 800+ rebounds in a career.
With 3,528 points, Clark recently surpassed Kelsey Plum to take the record for most points scored by a women's basketball team in the NCAA. Clark is expected to be the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Swift Start: Clark Reaches Goal Early in the Game
On Thursday, it didn't take long to reach that goal. She scored the first two baskets of the game for Iowa, a 2-pointer and a 3-pointer, bringing her within three of the eight points she needed.
Record-Breaking Shot: Celebration Erupts in Iowa City
In the first quarter, she dropped a 3-point basket with 7:40 to go, still near the Iowa logo in the middle of the court. The game paused for a moment, Clark hugged her teammates and the announcer announced the feat to the enthusiastic crowd.
Humble Hero: Clark Credits Teammates and Coaches
At halftime, Clark expressed her gratitude to her teammates and coaches, but her attention was still on the game. At halftime, Clark said, "It's just nice to be in the same realm as a lot of really, really good players." I'm fortunate to do so because I have great teammates, coaches, and a fantastic support system surrounding me, but we need to play better defensively.
Dominant Performance: Clark Leads Hawkeyes to Victory
Afterward, Clark scored a game-high 49 points to lead his team past Iowa, 106-89.
Post-Game Celebration: Showered with Love and Support
After the game, a celebration was held on the court, and videos were shown on an overhead screen where family, friends, and coaches shared memories, congratulations, and well wishes.
Scoring Machine: Clark on Pace to Break Her Own Record
She scored at least 40 points in a game this season for the fourth time. Clark will probably have broken her previous record with four regular-season games remaining, as she averages over 32 points per game.
Passing the Torch: Kelly Plum Praises Clark's Accomplishment
In 2017, Kelley Plum had set his own career record of 3,527 points. When No. 4 Iowa's four-game winning streak ended Sunday with an 82-79 loss to Nebraska, Clark came within seven points of that benchmark. Last week, Plum, who played for Washington from 2013 to 2017, expressed his gratitude to Clark for picking up the slack. Plum told the Washington Post, "I hope everyone in the media takes the time to understand that she's not just a basketball player but a young woman with feelings and emotions." She wears it well, but there's a lot to deal with. On the other hand, make sure we show her love outside of her performance."