Making history: 13 records Caitlin Clark is chasing this season

On Wednesday, Caitlin Clark will take to the golf course to play in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am with PGA Tour pro and Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson. While Caitlin goes after the TPC Deere Run course record (59), there are plenty of records on the court that she will be going after this season. It seems like every other game the Hawkeyes play, there is another feat or milestone reached by the National Player of the Year. Clark spent the entirety of Iowa’s Final Four run breaking NCAA Tournament records and will now have a shot to break some more records during her senior season.

We take a look at some of the notable feats that Caitlin has already accomplished, what records she could break this season and when she might break them.

Notable feats already accomplished

– Most points in first 100 games men’s or women’s (2,717)

– First player in NCAA Tournament history (men’s and women’s) to have back-to-back 40-point games

– First player in DI women’s basketball histroy to record 1,000+ points and 300+ assists in a season

– Tied Elena Delle Donne for fastest to 2,000 career points (75 games)

– Since 2000, there are six instances of a player having 150+ points and 50+ assists in any five-game span. All six were done by Caitlin.

– Owns the Big Ten record for triple-doubles with nine

– One of six players in the NBA, WNBA, DI men’s or women’s basketball to record back-to-back 30-point triple-doubles since 2000. The other five are NBA players.

– Led the NCAA in points and assists per game for back-to-back seasons

Iowa Women’s Basketball Program Records

Career Scoring: Megan Gustafson (2,804) – When Gustafson graduated in 2019, I don’t think many Hawkeye fans had her scoring record going down in less than five years. Well, here we are. Caitlin Clark needs just 88 points to become the new scoring leader and that will happen very early in the season. Projection: November 16 vs Kansas State

Career Assists: Samantha Logic (898) – Caitlin has talked many times about watching Samantha Logic when she was a Hawkeye and what it means to be in the same conversation as her for several records. She already passed her triple-double record and needs just 101 assists to break her program assist record. Projection: Mid-December

Career Field-Goals: Megan Gustafson (1,136) – Given that Caitlin is in line to break Megan Gustafson’s scoring record, it is no surprise that she has a shot at her field goal record as well. She needs just 246 field goal makes to break the record and has eclipsed that number comfortably in all three seasons at Iowa. Projection: Late February

Career Free Throw Attempts: Ally Disterhoft (709) – Caitlin already owns the program record for most free throw makes in a career with 590, but can break the free throw attempts record with just 21 more shots from the stripe. Considering she averages 6.88 attempts per game, we will see this record go down pretty quickly. Projection: November 12 at Northern Iowa

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Records

Career Scoring: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (3,402) – The second of three scoring records that she will be going after this season. Mitchell held the Big Ten record for fastest to 2,000 points (79 games) until Caitlin took that down and accomplished it in 75 games. She needs just 686 points to become the new Big Ten scoring leader. Projection: Mid-February

Career Field Goals: Jantel Lavender, Ohio State (1,142) – This record didn’t seem reachable until Caitlin went off for 338 field goals last season. That’s 52 more makes than she had during her sophomore season season. Now, the former Buckeyes record is within striking distance. She needs 252 field goal makes to break the record. Projection: Late February

Career Made Free Throws: Shereka Wright, Purdue (776) – To have a shot at this record, you not only need to get to the free throw line a lot, but also make the most of those opportunities. Caitlin does both of those and that is why she is line to break this record. Over three seasons, she is averaging 6.88 attempts per game and is making them at an 86% clip. She needs 187 free throw makes to break the record. Projection: Late February

Career Assists: Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State (901) – There is a very good chance that Caitlin breaks the Samantha Logic’s program assist record and this one in the same game. Prahalis finished her career with just 901 assists, which is just three more than Logic. Projection: Mid-December

NCAA Women’s Basketball Records

Career Scoring: Kelsey Plum, Washington (3,527) – This is the record that would give Caitlin the argument to be called the best player in women’s college basketball history. Just 14 players have ever eclipsed the 3,000 point mark for a career. Caitlin needs just 811 points to break the record and if she stays on her current scoring pace, she would break the record in roughly ten less games. Projection: Late February

Career Field Goals: Joyce Walker, LSU (1,259) – This is going to be a tough record to reach, but it is within somewhat reasonable striking distance. Last season, Caitlin made 338 field goals and would need 370 this year to break the record. She would likely have to average 30 points per game to to have a shot at this record, but that isn’t out of the question. Projection: If she reaches the milestone, it will happen in the NCAA Tournament.

Career Field-Goal Attempts: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2,560) – It is really quite a feat that Caitlin could break the Big Ten assist record and the NCAA field-goal attempt record. It speaks to the offense that Lisa Bluder runs. She needs to take 659 shots to break this record. Projection: NCAA Tournament

Career Three-Pointers: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (497) – The Hawkeyes would probably have to have another deep run in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament to give her a shot at this record. Caitlin knocked down 140 three-pointers across 38 games last season and needs 151 to break this record. A shortened non-conference schedule her freshman year and three canceled games as a sophomore may be too much overcome, despite averaging nearly the exact same amount of three-point makes per game. Projection: If she reaches the milestone, it will happen in the NCAA Tournament.

2,000 points and 1,000 assist club: Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga), Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon) – Talk about joining an elite list. Vandersloot is five-time WNBA All-Star, while Ionescu has been an a WNBA All-Star in both of her full seasons with the New York Liberty. Caitlin has already flown past the 2,000-point mark for her career, but still needs 202 assists to hit 1,000 for her career. She has eclipsed 240 assists in each of the past two seasons, so it’s not a matter of if, but when. Being in the conversation for this milestone puts to rest the “ball hog” arguments that people make.