The all-time NCAA women’s basketball points record is now held by the University of Iowa Sr. Caitlin Clark, who surpassed former University of Washington standout Kelsey Plum as the new all-time points leader on Feb. 15. Plum had set the record in 2017 with a total of 3,527 points in her collegiate career.
Going into last Thursday’s game against Michigan, Clark needed eight points to surpass Plum’s record. She achieved the feat in typical Clark fashion by hitting a three-pointer from the half-court logo – about 30 feet away from the basket. The record-breaking shot was not the only record broken that night, as Clark set a new Iowa women’s record for most points in a game with 49.
The record was in reach at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, with Clark needing 811 points to pass Plum. Scoring is nothing new for Clark, as she has averaged 26.6 points, 27 points, and 27.8 points in her first three collegiate seasons, respectively. This season, Clark is averaging 32.8 points – leading the NCAA in points per game.
Clark grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, where her basketball talent set her apart from the start. Clark was put into a Boys’ AAU league because there was no league for girls, so her skills were put to the test when she started her basketball career. The boys’ league did not stop Clark from standing out as she led her team to an AAU state championship. She would often get complaints from opposing parents because they felt that she should not be allowed to play.
When Clark reached Dowling Catholic High School, she had the opportunity to join a girls’ team. Throughout her time at Dowling Catholic, she scored 2,547 points. This achievement placed her fourth on the all-time list for points scored in Iowa High School Girls’ Basketball history.
In her high school career, she received Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, The Iowa Print Sports Writer’s Association (IPSWA) first-team 5A All-State in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and IPSWA Ms. Iowa Basketball in 2020.
Clark’s high school achievements led her to be a five-star recruit in her class and ranked fourth nationally. Clark received offers from many D-I schools, including the University of Texas, the University of Oregon, the Oregon State University, the University of Notre Dame, and Duke University. With many choices to pick from, Clark decided on her final three: Iowa, Iowa State, and Notre Dame. Ultimately, Clark decided to continue her career at the University of Iowa and the rest is history.
