Caitlin Clark surpasses Pete Maravich to set new NCAA all-time scoring record
The Iowa star took her career points tally to 3,685 on Sunday (3 March), smashing a 54-year-old basketball record.
Basketball
Basketball star Caitlin Clark wrote herself into the history books on Sunday (3 March) when she set a new NCAA all-time scoring record of 3,685 career, surpassing long-standing holder Pete Maravich.
It comes just days after the Iowa native made clear her intentions to forgo her final year of college and enter the 2024 WNBA draft, where she is projected to be the No.1 pick by the Indiana Fever.
A handful of free throws before the end of the first half in the Hawkeyes’s win 93-83 win over Ohio State were enough to clinch the NCAA’s all-time points record in Division I college basketball, men or women.
The 22-year-old finished the game with 35 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
Plenty of big names congratulated Clark, including legendary LeBron James, as well as the trailblazing Billie Jean King who shared an Instagram story, writing: “Congratulations to the indomitable Caitlin Clark, who smashed a 54-year-old record and has become the NCAA All-Time Leading Scorer.”
Her performance on Sunday was prefaced by a midweek record-breaking showing that saw her eclipse Lynette Woodard’s tally, becoming the AIAW large-school leading scorer.
Clark was just grateful to make the shots that saw her written into history, dubbing it one of the hardest shots to make in basketball.
“Honestly, I didn’t really care [about breaking the record from the line]; it was cool to hear everyone start screaming,” she said in the post-game press conference.
“I thought it gave us a lot of momentum going into half-time. I’m just glad to make the free throws - that’s the hardest thing to do in basketball, make free throws with nobody at the free-throw line.”
Iowa and Clark are awaiting their opponents for the Big 10 tournament, where they will look to defend their title, which will be contested on Friday (8 March).