Iowa Caitlin Clark Continues to Impress with Record-Breaking Performance

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark added to her growing collection of milestones Wednesday night at Northwestern, moving into second place on the NCAA women’s all-time scoring list during her team’s 110-74 win. Clark, the Naismith women’s college player of the year for the 2022-23 season, passed former Ohio State star Kelsey Mitchell on a layup with 4:58 left in the second quarter. She entered Wednesday’s game fourth on the career scoring list, four points behind Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles and 13 behind Mitchell.

Clark’s second 3-pointer of the first quarter pushed her past Stiles, and she also overtook Mitchell as the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer. Clark, who also set the Big Ten’s all-time assists record earlier this season, finished with 35 points for her fifth straight 30-point game, matching the longest streak of her career.

Clark’s performance was once again a testament to her incredible talent and determination on the basketball court. The senior from West Des Moines, Iowa, has reached a series of milestones, becoming Iowa’s all-time leader in points, assists, and 3-pointers made. She needs 18 field goals to set the Big Ten record held by Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender.

Clark’s scoring record-breaking performance was not without its struggles, however. She finished just 3 of 12 from 3-point range, and she repeatedly attacked the basket, even left alone for an open layup in the fourth quarter. Northwestern forward Paige Mott acknowledged Clark’s ability to score in various ways, 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.”

Clark’s teammates and coaches were quick to praise her performance, with Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stating, “With this many games to go, overtaking somebody the caliber of Kelsey Mitchell, is outstanding. Really proud of her, but also her 10 assists tonight, great job.” Bluder added, “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.”

with Iowa guard Caitlin Clark’s teammate, Hannah Stuelke, sharing her thoughts on playing alongside the record-breaking star. “Caitlin makes the game so much easier for everyone else on the court. She draws so much attention from the defense, which opens up opportunities for her teammates to score. It’s an honor to play with someone as talented as her,” said Stuelke.

Clark’s performance on the court has also translated to success for the Iowa women’s basketball team. The Hawkeyes, who were national runners-up in 2023, have drawn record crowds at road and neutral venues all season. Fans have shown up hours before tip-off to secure a spot in the arena, and Clark has been a major draw for these crowds.

Clark’s impact on the game extends beyond the court, as she has become a role model for young athletes. Her success has inspired many young girls to pursue their dreams of playing college basketball, and she has become a household name in the sports world.

Despite her impressive achievements, Clark remains humble and focused on the game. She recognizes the names of the players she has surpassed on the all-time scoring list and considers it an honor to be in the same company as them. “The coolest thing is just the names I get to be around,” Clark 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.”

Clark’s performance on the court has been a major factor in the success of the Iowa women’s basketball team. With her impressive scoring ability, vision, and passing skills, she has become a force to be reckoned with. As she continues to break records and lead her team to victory, there is no doubt that Clark will go down in history as one of the greatest players in women’s college basketball.

In conclusion, Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking performance on the court has been a major factor in the success of the Iowa women’s basketball team. Her impressive scoring ability, vision, and passing skills have made her a force to be reckoned with, and she has become a role model for young athletes. As she continues to break records and lead her team to victory, there is no doubt that Clark will go down in history as one of the greatest players in women’s college basketball.