Caitlin Clark broke three major college basketball scoring records in less than three weeks.
Finally, the Iowa superstar can take a breath.
“I’m so focused on helping this team win and be so great, it’s hard to wrap my head around everything going on,” she said. “I’m trying to soak in the moment.”
Clark’s dizzying regular season ended Sunday with her passing Pete Maravich as the NCAA Division I overall scoring leader during the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes’ 93-83 win over No. 2 Ohio State in Iowa City.
Four days earlier, she took down Lynette Woodard’s major college women’s scoring record, and two weeks before that she broke Kelsey Plum’s Division I record.
Maravich’s 54-year-old record was considered the holy grail, and many observers will want to put an asterisk on Clark’s accomplishment because Maravich amassed his 3,667 points in 83 games over three seasons at LSU (1967-70) and without having a 3-point line or shot clock.
Clark, who scored 35 points against the Buckeyes and built her reputation on the 3-point shot, will go into the Big Ten Tournament with 3,685 in 130 games.
“I hope it advances women’s sports even more,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said, “but to me, you don’t have to break a man’s record to be recognized. You don’t have to do that. Breaking Lynette’s record was significant. So to me, I admire ‘Pistol Pete’ but at the same time, I just don’t want that to be the bar for women’s athletics.”
Clark, who announced last week that she would enter for the 2024 WNBA draft, said she hopes she’s not just remembered for setting records at Iowa.
“I hope people remember me for the way I played with a smile on my face, my competitive fire,” she said. “Sure, they can remember the wins but also the fun me and my teammates had together.”
Attention on Clark has increased each season since she arrived at Iowa in 2020, and the spotlight has been especially bright since she led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA championship game last year.
Her name, image and likeness deals with Nike, Gatorade and State Farm, among others, have made her one of the most visible athletes, college or pro, in the nation. Her pursuit of scoring records, combined with her glitzy playing style, have brought media attention in an amount that would overwhelm most 22-year-olds.
“The biggest part of my maturity and growth has been being able to handle that and balance everything going on around me and the noise around me,” she said, “and obviously it can be hard at times. But I would never change that for the world.”
The Hawkeyes are off until the Big Ten Tournament starts later this week. They’re the No. 2 seed, meaning they don’t play until Friday’s quarterfinals in Minneapolis.
She’ll go into the postseason chasing conference and national championships, not scoring records.
That she will go into her final games at Iowa atop the NCAA’s all-time scoring chart is something she is yet to fully grasp.
“It’s really crazy to think about,” she said. “If you had told me that before my college career started, I would have laughed in your face and been like, ‘No, you’re insane,’ ” she said. “I’ve always been able to score the ball. People don’t understand how many players came before me and were able to score the ball at such a high rate and do it for teams that were really, really good.”
News
Leg pain, rheumatism, varicose veins, arthritis My mother couldn’t walk because of pain🧄 Must express something to keep getting my recipes 🙏
Natural Remedy for Leg Pain, Rheumatism, Varicose Veins, and Arthritis Do you or a loved one suffer from leg pain, rheumatism, varicose veins, or arthritis? Finding relief…
Most people don’t know the power of this Simple Backyard Miracle Plant. 11 Surprising Benefits of The Miracle Leaf of Life
11 Surprising Benefits of The Miracle Leaf of Life The Miracle Leaf of Life, also known as Bryophyllum pinnatum, is a powerhouse of medicinal properties. This succulent…
Everybody loves figs, but most people have no idea that its sap is worth gold…
The Amazing Benefits of Fig Sap: Nature’s Hidden Elixir Fig sap, the milky liquid extracted from the fig tree (Ficus spp.), is one of nature’s best-kept secrets….
OMG this is the best tea in the morning and after dinners: Garlic 🧄 turmeric onion 🧅 ginger 🫚 cinnamon and guava leaves 🍃
Unlock the Secret Power of Guava Leaves: Transform Your Hair, Skin, and Health Naturally Guava is often hailed as a superfruit, but did you know that its…
This is Unbelievable! Goosegrass (Eleusine indica): A Natural Ally for Kidney Health
Goosegrass, scientifically known as Eleusine indica, has long been recognized in traditional medicine for its various health benefits. Among its most notable uses is supporting kidney health through…
Kyllinga Brevifolia: Unlocking the Healing Potential of the “Green Kyllinga”
Kyllinga Brevifolia: Unlocking the Healing Potential of the “Green Kyllinga” Kyllinga brevifolia, commonly known as green kyllinga or shortleaf spikesedge, is a fascinating plant that has long…
End of content
No more pages to load