Her path to the record: Caitlin Clark closing in on the NCAA scoring record

It’s been 1,166 days since Caitlin Clark took the floor for her first ever game as an Iowa Hawkeye. Fast forward to now and she has won back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year awards, is a three-time AP All-American selection and was named National Player of the Year as a junior. Clark is nearing the biggest accomplishment of her career; the NCAA all-time scoring record. She sits just [ ] points behind former Washington guard Kelsey Plum and is expected to pass her tomorrow against Nebraska. With the record-breaking basket on the near horizon, we take a look back at some of her best moments on the way to the record.

2020-21 Season: 799 points

Caitlin Clark committed to Iowa over Notre Dame and Iowa State, coming to Iowa City from Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines. She finished her high school career with 2,547 points, which ranks fourth all-time in Iowa five-on-five history. Clark was rated as the #4 player in the country by ESPN. As a true freshman, she averaged 26.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists. The Hawkeyes went 20-10, advancing to the Sweet 16, where they fell to Paige Bueckers led Connecticut. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a Second Team AP All-American.

First Career Points: vs Northern Iowa (November 25, 2020)

In an empty Carver-Hawkeye Arena due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Caitlin Clark scored her first career points in front of coaches, players and family members. It was a rather quiet way to start her journey to breaking Kelsey Plum’s scoring record, as she was fouled, on a drive to the basket, just 34 seconds into the game. Caitlin went to the line and calmly went 2/2. She finished the game with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 96-81 season-opening win over in-state rival Northern Iowa.

First Career Triple-Double: vs Western Illinois (December 22nd, 2021)

In her sixth career game, Caitlin put up her first career triple-double. It wasn’t her best night of shooting, finishing just 3/15 from the floor, but she put up 13 points, 13 rebounds and ten assists in the 92-65 win. It was the first triple-double by an Iowa women’s player since Samantha Logic did it against against Baylor in the 2015 Sweet 16.

500 Career Points: at Maryland (February 23rd, 2021)

There weren’t many positives that came from this game, as the Hawkeyes fell in College Park by a final score of 111-93. However, Caitlin Clark eclipsed the 500-point mark with 34 points, three rebounds and seven assists. She joined Jaime Printy as the only Hawkeyes to score 500+ points in their freshman season.

2021-22 Season: 863 points (1,662)

Coming off of a breakout freshman year, Caitlin and the Hawkeyes were ranked #9 in the preseason AP Poll. Clark became the first women’s player in DI history to lead the country in points and assists, averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. Iowa shared the Big Ten regular season title and went on to win the Big Ten Tournament. They earned a two seed in the NCAA Tournament, but were upset by 10 seed Creighton in the second round. Clark was named a First Team AP All-American and won Big Ten Player of the Year.

1,000 Career Points and first 40-point game: vs Evansville (January 2, 2022)

This game was hastily put together at the last second, after the Hawkeyes had three games canceled due to Covid issues within the program. It worked out well for Caitlin, as she put up a then career-high 44 points and eight assists in a 93-56 win over the Aces. A transition three-pointer from Clark midway through the opening quarter put her past the 1,000 career point total in just 40 games. She became the fastest Big Ten player to reach 1,000 points surpassing former Ohio State guard Kelsey Mitchell.

Career-High 46 Points: at Michigan (Febuary 6th, 2022)

Iowa came into this matchup against the Wolverines down two starters, with McKenna Warnock and Gabbie Marshall both out. The Hawkeyes trailed by as much as 25 points late in the third quarter, but Caitlin did her best to bring them back. She scored 33 second half points, including 25 in the fourth quarter, which allowed Iowa to cut a 66-41 deficit down to as little as 93-88 in the final minute. Clark finished with a career-high 46 points and ten assists in the 98-90 loss. She broke the Crisler Center women’s single-game scoring record and delivered one of the craziest three-point attempt screenshots you’ll ever see (she made it).

2022-23 Season: 1,055 points (2,717)

The Hawkeyes earned the #4 ranking the AP Preseason Top 25 and finished the regular season with a 23-6 record. Caitlin averaged 27.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game, setting Big Ten single season records for points, assists, three-pointers and free throws. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten Tournament for a second straight year and made it all the way to the National Title Game, where they fell to LSU. Clark was named AP Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year and won the Wooden Award. She repeated as Big Ten Player of the Year.

2,000 Career Points: vs Dartmouth (December 21st, 2022)

Just 353 days after she hit 1,000 career points, Caitlin eclipsed the 2,000 career point mark in a 92-54 win over Dartmouth. She tied former Delaware center Elena Delle Donne for the fastest DI women’s player to reach the 2,000 point mark (75 games). Clark finished the game with a double-double 20 points, ten rebounds and six assists.

Buzzer Beater #1: vs Indiana (February 26th, 2023)

Quite possibly the most electric moment of her career to this point, Caitlin knocked down an off balance three-pointer at the horn to knock off the #2 Indiana Hoosiers in front of a sold out crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The arena hosted ESPN College Basketball Gameday for the first time in school history earlier in the day. She finished the game with 34 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Iowa won 86-85.

Back-to-back 40-point NCAA Tournament games: vs Louisville (Elite Eight) vs South Carolina (Final Four)

In the Hawkeyes run to the Final Four, Caitlin Clark put up never before seen numbers. Her 191 points and 60 assists over the course of the six games were the most ever by a player during the women’s tournament. As impressive as her entire run was, her performance in the Elite Eight and Final Four were on another level.

In the Elite Eight against Louisville, Clark put up a triple-double 41 points, ten rebounds and 12 assists in the Hawkeyes 97-83 win. It was her tenth career triple-double, which moved her into second place behind former Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu. Then, in the Final Four against South Carolina, Caitlin put up 41 points, six rebounds and eight assists, as Iowa ended the Gamecocks 42-game winning streak by a final score of 77-73. She became the first player in tournament history with consecutive 40-point games and broke the single-game scoring record for the national semifinal.

2023-24 Season: 745 points and counting (3,461)

The Hawkeyes opened Caitlin’s senior season with a #3 ranking in the AP Preseason Top 25. So far, she is putting together her best season yet, averaging 32.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, while shooting a career-best 48.2% from the floor. She has scored 30+ points in 14 games, including a season-high 45 points against Ohio State. Caitlin has earned six Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season and holds the conference record for most weekly honors in a career with 25.

Iowa WBB Scoring Record: at Northern Iowa (November 12th, 2023)

The first of four scoring milestones this season, Caitlin surpassed former Hawkeye Megan Gustafson as the Iowa women’s basketball all-time leading scorer. She broke the record on a basket in the lane, plus the foul midway through the third quarter that extended the Iowa lead to 55-33. Clark finished the game with a triple-double 24 points, ten rebounds and 11 assists in the 94-53 win. She also became just the second player in DI history to record a triple-double in four different seasons.

3,000 Career Points: at Iowa State (December 6th, 2023)

24 days after Caitlin broke the Iowa women’s basketball scoring record, she became just the 15th DI player to reach the 3,000 career point total. Unlike some of her other milestones, this one came in a close game. Clark hit a transition three-pointer off of a feed from Gabbie Marshall to give Iowa a slim 43-39 lead on the road against the rival Cyclones. The Hawkeyes went on to win 67-58, while Caitlin finished with 35 points, nine rebounds and five assists. She became the second-fastest to reach the 3,000 point mark behind former Mississippi Valley State standout Patricia Hoskins.

Buzzer Beater #2: vs Michigan State (January 2nd, 2024)

If you saw this buzzer beater in real-time, it means that you either at the game or you subscribe to Peacock! Unranked Michigan State gave the Hawkeyes all the could handle on their home floor, but Caitlin Clark was too much for the Spartans to contain. The final possession was a bit chaotic, but the ball found the hands of Clark and her stepback three was money at the buzzer. She finished with 40 points and five assists in the 76-73 victory.

Big Ten Scoring Record: at Northwestern (January 31st, 2024)

The most recent record acheived by Caitlin came on the final day of January at a sold out Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. Clark sliced through the lane for a layup to put Iowa up 38-21, which pushed her past former Ohio State guard Kelsey Mitchell for the Big Ten all-time scoring record. It also put her into second place on the NCAA all-time scoring list. She finished the game with a double-double 35 points, ten assists and six rebounds in the 110-74 win.

NCAA Scoring Record (Projected): at Nebraska (February 11th, 2024) or vs Michigan (February 15th, 2024)

Now onto the big one; the NCAA all-time scoring record held by former Washington guard Kelsey Plum. Caitlin put up 27 points, five rebounds and 15 assists against Penn State on Thursday night, so she needs just 39 points to stand alone at the top. When will she do it? By the exact math, going by her 32.2 points per game, she is expected to do it at the 1:36 mark in the first quarter of their next home game against Michigan. However, you can’t rule out the possibility of it happening on Sunday in Lincoln. She has scored 39+ points in 12 games over the course of her 124 game career. Either way, she is on the doorstep of history.