Aiexpress – Caitlin Clark has outperformed every male and female player in the history of major college basketball.
In a thrilling match at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena against Ohio State, the 22-year-old Iowa superstar shattered Pete Maravich’s long-standing NCAA basketball points record. Just moments before halftime, with only 0.3 seconds remaining, he confidently sank a free throw, etching his name in history once more and surpassing the remarkable 54-year-old milestone.
Clark stepped onto the court with a mission: to surpass “Pistol Pete’s” NCAA record of 3,667 points by scoring 18 more.
In a remarkable display of skill and talent, she ended the game with an astounding 35 points, along with nine assists and six rebounds. Her impressive performance contributed to Iowa’s victory with a final score of 93-83. With this game, she has now accumulated a total of 3,685 career points.
“Just to be in the same realm of all these players who have been so successful, whether it’s Pete or Kelsey Plum or Lynette Woodard — all these people have just given so much to the game,” Clark said. “Hopefully somebody comes after me and breaks my records and I can be there supporting them.”
The comparison between Clark’s and Maravich’s careers has sparked some debate. It’s worth noting that Maravich achieved his total in just three seasons, while Clark took four. Adding to the complexity of the comparison is the fact that Maravich played for LSU from 1967-1970, a time when there was no shot clock or 3-point line.
Jaeson Maravich, the oldest son of Maravich, spoke highly of Clark leading up to Sunday’s event. He even remarked that her “lanky build and dark eyes” reminded him of his father.
Jaeson Maravich, in an interview with the Associated Press, expressed his admiration for Caitlin’s incredible achievements. He described her as a phenomenal player who has made a significant impact not only in the women’s game but also in basketball as a whole.
The average ticket price for Sunday’s game was higher than any women’s college or WNBA game ever, as ESPN previously reported.
The ticket price on Vivid Seats a few hours before the game was $287.
In the midst of the buzzing crowd, young girls proudly held up signs expressing their support and admiration for Clark. Her immense talent and success have elevated the popularity of women’s college basketball to new heights.
Clark has had a remarkable couple of weeks, starting with her breaking Kelsey Plum’s NCAA women’s points record on February 15th.
On February 28th, she achieved a remarkable feat by surpassing Lynette Woodard’s all-time women’s major college scoring record of 3,649 points. It should be noted that Woodard’s record, set during her time in the AIAW, was not officially recognized by the NCAA.
Clark made an announcement on Thursday that she is entering the 2024 WNBA Draft, choosing to forgo her remaining year of NCAA eligibility.
The Indiana Fever have secured the top pick in the upcoming draft, scheduled to be held on April 15 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Clark’s day became even more special when she was pleasantly surprised by her idol, Maya Moore, during an ESPN interview prior to the game.
During the interview, Moore unexpectedly approached Clark, which startled him at first. However, their initial surprise quickly turned into a warm embrace between the two.
Clark’s résumé is missing one achievement: a national championship. Unfortunately, Iowa was defeated by LSU in last year’s national championship game.
During Clark’s freshman year, Iowa was eliminated in the Sweet 16, followed by a second-round exit during her sophomore year.
