Caitlin Clark– another day, another record broken
Photo: John Mac, Wikimedia, 2023
“Cailtin Clark is a walking bucket,” Vikings tight end and Iowa alum, TJ Hockenson, tweeted in March 2023.
He said it best. Not much has changed – other than a few records broken– and that statement remains very true. In her most recent page in the history books, Caitlin Clark has just become the first player in college basketball to record at least 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists. That's both men’s and women’s.
Clark reached the 3,000 point milestone in the rivalry game against Iowa State, and finished the game with 35 points, 9 rebounds, and five assists, leading the Hawkeyes to a 67-58 victory. All 14 points scored by Iowa in the 3rd quarter were Clark’s.
Coming into this matchup, Clark was 22 points shy of the 3,000 marker and playing at Hilton Coliseum, just 45 minutes from where she grew up.
“It’s special to be able to do it here. I have a lot of family in attendance,” said Clark.
Not only is it special to be close to home, but before this game Clark had never won at Hilton Coliseum, and this was her last opportunity. Despite this huge milestone, Cailtin Clark noted how her head was in the game, and “it didn’t really cross [her] mind.”
“We don’t celebrate it in a timeout. We don’t stop the game. It’s not what it's about, as long as we win” said Clark. “I probably wouldn’t be happy with scoring 3,000 points in a loss.”
Along with the scoring, rebound and assist record, Clark also became the 15th player in NCAA history to reach 3,000 points, and the 3rd Big Ten player ever to reach this milestone.
Iowa coach, Lisa Bluder, summed it up when she said, “when [Clark’s] light shines, it shines on all of us. It shines on the University of Iowa and the state of Iowa, and we’re going to enjoy it while we have it.”
Cailtin Clark will have a big decision to make following this season– whether she will declare for the WNBA draft or return for a fifth year at the University of Iowa. Whether she returns to play for the Hawkeyes or not, she has secured her place in Iowa history and made her mark on women’s college basketball.
