Caitlin Clark opens up on what it means to reach 1,000 career assists

No. 2 ranked Iowa lost just their third game of the season on Sunday falling to Nebraska on the road in a 82-79 loss.

It was a disappointing night for the Hawkeyes, who entered the fourth quarter with a 14-point lead before being outscored 27-10 in the final period. But yet again the game also marked another impressive career accomplishment for Hawkeyes’ star Caitlin Clark.

Clark led Iowa with 31 points and eight rebounds on Sunday, but her 10 assists in the game pushed her past the 1,000 career assists mark. And despite being on the losing end of Sunday’s matchup, Clark reflected on what reaching the major milestone means to her personally.

“That’s what I take a lot of pride in, is I want to be able to set my teammates up and hopefully in return that makes my life a little too of getting to my spots,” Clark said. “An assist doesn’t come without my teammate finishing the ball.”

Clark is widely known for her scoring prowess, just eight points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball history.

She’s changed the game with her ability to score deep three-point range and beyond, currently leading the nation in scoring averaging 32.1 points per game. But she’s also proven to be just as effective as a playmaker, also leading the nation with 8.3 assists per game this season. Ranking third-all time in Division I women’s basketball history with 1,005 career assists behind Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot

On Sunday Clark became the first college basketball player across men’s and women’s history to reach 3,000 career points and 1,000 career assists, as she continues to add to her legendary legacy. But the once in a generation player still gives credit to her teammates and head coach Lisa Bluder for their role in her individual success.

“And obviously I’ve played with a lot of really good players over the last four years whether it was Mon (Monika Czinano), whether it was McKenna (Warnock), whether it’s Hannah (Stuelke), Addi (Addison O’Grady), Kate (Martin), Gabbie (Marshall). I’ve played with so many really great players that find a way to put the basketball in the hole, so I’m just really grateful in that regard,” Clark said. “Obviously Coach Bluder’s kind of let me do my thing and be me and that’s something I’m grateful for too.”

Caitlin Clark’s been a trailblazer for women’s basketball, shattering records while also setting a fantastic example for young players and bringing a heightened level of attention to the sport as a whole. As she’ll look to become women’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer on Thursday as the Hawkeyes’ host Michigan at 8 p.m. ET.