The landscape of women’s basketball is undergoing a seismic shift, and at the epicenter stands none other than Caitlin Clark.
In case you are unfamiliar with the college phenom, Caitlin Clark is a senior guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball team, known for her unbelievable shooting performances and her competitive edge. This year, according to ESPN, she is averaging 5.4 three-pointers per game. To put that in perspective, Stephen Curry made 5.3 per game at a 38 percent success rate in his most productive offensive season, according to the National Basketball Association. Clark is not only hitting more threes than the greatest shooter of all time, but is doing it at a higher rate: 39.5 percent.
This barrage has allowed the Iowa guard to average 32.2 points per game while garnering support from all over the sports world. Boston Latin School’s girls’ varsity basketball captain Ruby Donovan (I) and her team feel “refresh[ed] to see a girl taken seriously as an athlete,” a sentiment that certainly rings true as Clark continues to attract millions of new fans to watch her performances.
This isn’t just some fluke of a season though, as Clark has averaged just over 27 points per game in her previous three years at Iowa. With her consistent scoring, Caitilin Clark has launched herself into the record books through a series of fabled performances. On February 15, the Iowa senior scored 49 with nine threes on her way to break the record for most career points in women’s National Collegiate Athletics Association history, previously held by Kelsey Plum. In classic Caitlin Clark fashion, the history-making shot was a 30-foot bomb from the logo at the center of the court.
Her list of accomplishments from this season, however, does not end there.
On March 3, Iowa, then ranked No. 6, took on then No. 2 Ohio State. Clark entered the game 18 points behind “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who has held the Division I record for career points since 1970. This marquee matchup also stood as Iowa’s final regular season game, marking Clark’s last game in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The culmination of these events created immense anticipation, causing the average ticket price to be “546 dollars, the most expensive on record for a women’s basketball game, college or pro,” as reported by Scott Allen of the Washington Post.
Caitilin Clark did not disappoint. In the first half alone, the senior had 19 points, passing Pete Maravich on a pair of free throws. Iowa closed out the game in the second half, pulling out an upset against a Buckeye team who had previously won 15 straight. Clark finished her final regular season game with 35 points and nine assists, adding another iconic game to her legacy.
With the scoring title under her belt, Clark moved forward to the postseason. First up was the Big 10 tournament where Iowa entered as the No. 2 seed, much in part due to their win against Ohio State. After a bye in the first round, Iowa steamrolled their initial two opponents, beating both Penn State and Michigan by an average margin of 30 points. In the championship game of the Big 10 tournament, Caitlin Clark once again delivered, dropping 34 points and 12 assists, propelling the Hawkeyes past the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a thrilling overtime win. This victory stamped the third straight conference title for Iowa, becoming only the fourth team in Big 10 history to accomplish this feat.
The road does not end there for Clark’s remarkable senior season, however. Following their outstanding performance in the Big 10 tournament, the Hawkeyes will be playing in March Madness as a top ranked seed.
In last year’s campaign, Caitlin Clark averaged 31 points across the six games, leading her team to the national championship game. Unfortunately, Iowa fell short to Angel Reese’s LSU Tigers in a game that “drew over four million more viewers than the previous women’s college basketball record,” states Nick Selbe of Sports Illustrated. This year, Caitlin Clark aims to secure the national championship for her home state of Iowa, marking a perfect end to her illustrious collegiate career.
On February 29, Clark announced her decision to forgo a fifth year at Iowa, and instead will enter the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. This is welcomed news for the Indiana Fever, who will undoubtedly select the Iowa senior with the number one overall pick. As the most sought after prospect in WNBA history, Caitlin Clark will be expected to perform immediately. No one has ever averaged more than 26 points per game, but with her unique scoring ability, Clark is poised to add this record to her collection.
Nevertheless, even with all the talent in the world, no one can predict how Clark’s career will unfold. As basketball fans, we can only hope Caitlin Clark continues to deliver unforgettable performances, revolutionizing the game along the way.
