Iowa’s basketball sensation, Caitlin Clark, achieved another remarkable milestone on Wednesday night during a game against Northwestern, securing the second spot on the NCAA women’s all-time scoring list. In a dominating performance that led to her team’s 110-74 victory, Clark surpassed former Ohio State star Kelsey Mitchell’s record of 3,402 points with a layup just 4:58 into the second quarter.
The Naismith women’s college player of the year for the 2022-23 season, Clark entered the game ranked fourth on the career scoring list, trailing Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles by four points and Kelsey Mitchell by 13. Clark’s remarkable feat included surpassing Stiles with her second 3-pointer of the first quarter, not only securing her place in NCAA history but also making her the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer, overtaking Mitchell.
Finishing the game with an impressive 35 points, Clark extended her streak of consecutive 30-point games to five, matching the longest streak of her career. Her career points now stand at 3,424, and she is poised to target the NCAA’s all-time scoring record of 3,527, currently held by Washington’s Kelsey Plum.
Reflecting on her achievement, Clark expressed admiration for the players whose records she is now among. “The coolest thing is just the names I get to be around,” she said. “Those are people I grew up watching, especially Brittney Griner, Kelsey Mitchell, those are really, really good players, people that are still playing our game at the very highest level, people that you watch night in and night out. Just special for me to be in the same area as them.”
In addition to her scoring prowess, Clark showcased her versatility with 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a block. Despite facing some challenges from beyond the arc, finishing 3 of 12 from 3-point range, she displayed accuracy at the free-throw line, making all 10 attempts in 32 minutes of play.
Iowa’s head coach, Lisa Bluder, praised Clark’s outstanding achievement, emphasizing her overall contribution to the game. “With this many games to go, overtaking somebody the caliber of Kelsey Mitchell is outstanding,” said Bluder. “Really proud of her, but also her 10 assists tonight, great job.”
Bluder highlighted a particularly impressive play by Clark during the game, stating, “She had a pass tonight that was just ridiculous, to Hannah [Stuelke] at the end of the shot clock. It was crazy. I love watching it.”
A senior hailing from West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark has consistently reached new milestones throughout her career, setting records for Iowa’s all-time leader in points, assists, and 3-pointers made. With just 18 field goals needed to break the Big Ten record held by Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender, Clark is averaging 32.1 points per game, putting her on track to challenge Plum’s scoring record on Feb. 15 against Michigan.
Despite acknowledging her shooting challenges during the recent game, Clark’s multifaceted skills and relentless drive on the court continue to elevate her status as one of the game’s great players. Northwestern forward Paige Mott praised Clark’s performance, stating, “She’s a great player. I feel like we guarded her really well on the 3-point line, but then we just completely forgot that she could drive, she can make layups. There’s other stuff that she can do. When you take away one of the heads, another head comes up.”
