Caitlin Clark’s time in Iowa City officially came to an end with Iowa’s 87-75 setback against South Carolina in the 2024 women’s national championship game, so here’s a look back at the career of one of college basketball’s biggest stars ever.
Here are Clark’s career stats at Iowa:
Season | G/GS | FGM | FG% | 3P | 3P% | FTs | REB | AST | STL | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020-21 | 30/30 | 8.9 | 47.2 | 3.9 | 40.6 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 1.3 | 26.6 |
2021-22 | 32/32 | 8.9 | 45.2 | 2.8 | 33.2 | 6.3 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 27.0 |
2022-23 | 38/38 | 8.9 | 47.3 | 3.7 | 38.9 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 8.6 | 1.5 | 27.8 |
2023-24 | 39/39 | 10.3 | 45.5 | 5.2 | 37.8 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 8.9 | 1.7 | 31.6 |
She became the all-time DI women’s leader in points on Feb. 15, 2024, with a quintessential long-range 3-pointer against Michigan. On March 3, 2024, Clark then surpassed “Pistol Pete” Maravich to secure the DI scoring title across both genders, and just five days later on March 8, 2024, she broke Stephen Curry’s NCAA single-season 3-pointer record against Penn State.
Almost three weeks later, Clark broke the single-season record for most points scored in DI women’s basketball history during the second round of the 2024 NCAA women’s tournament, and she later broke Diana Taurasi’s mark for the most career 3s in women’s NCAA tournament history against LSU in the Elite Eight. The feat adds a cherry atop her lengthy list of accomplishments, which have already cemented her name in women’s college basketball history.
The Hawkeyes star was one of the most exciting players in the game, whether she was sinking 3-pointers near the logo or making incredible passes. From winning multiple national player of the year awards to yanking down long-standing records, Clark’s list of milestones through her four seasons was unparalleled.
Here’s a rundown of some of her individual honors:
- NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader (3,951)
- No. 22 retired by Iowa
- Naismith College Player of the Year (2023, 2024)
- AP Player of the Year (2023, 2024)
- Unanimous First Team All-American (2022-2024)
- First Team All-American by the AP (2022-2024)
- Second Team All-American by the AP (2021)
- Nancy Lieberman Award winner (2022-24)
- Dawn Staley Award winner (2021-23)
- Big Ten Player of the Year (2022-24)
- Big Ten tournament MOP (2022-24)
- First Team All-Big Ten (2021-24)
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2021)
- NCAA season assists leader (2022-24)
- NCAA season scoring leader (2021, 2022, 2024)
MORE: Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking NCAA tournament run, by the numbers
And here’s a look at her top moments each season as they happened.
2023-2024 Season
December 30, 2023: Clark sets Big Ten’s all-time assist record in 94-71 win against Minnesota and became the first DI college basketball player (men’s or women’s) to have 3,000 or more points, 900 or more assists and 800 or more rebounds in a career.
January 2, 2024: Clark beats the buzzer from the logo to defeat Michigan State.
SHE DOES IT AGAIN ‼️@CaitlinClark22 wins the game at the last second for @IowaWBB.
💻: Peacock pic.twitter.com/skizq0YbOy
— Big Ten Women’s Basketball (@B1Gwbball) January 3, 2024
January 21, 2024: Clark scored 45 points, though No. 2 Iowa lost to No. 18 Ohio State, 100-92 in overtime. It marked her 11th career game with at least 40 points (third this season).
January 31, 2024: Clark scored 35 points against Northwestern, passing Kelsey Mitchell to become No. 2 on the all-time DI women’s basketball scoring list and No. 1 in Big Ten history. She is now only 104 points away from breaking Kelsey Plum’s all-time scoring record.
Caitlin Clark becomes No. 2 all-time points leader in NCAA D-1 Women’s history 🔥
She trails Kelsey Plum for No. 1 pic.twitter.com/Bmex8D1fsf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 1, 2024
February 3, 2024: Clark dominated Maryland, putting up 38 points and 12 assists in the Hawkeyes road win. Next up for Clark and Iowa is a game against Penn State as she sits just 66 points shy of the NCAA scoring record.
February 8, 2024: Clark helped lead Iowa over Penn State with 27 points and 15 assists, but it was her teammate Hannah Stuelke who stole the show — dropping the second most points in a single game in program history, 47. Clark is now just 39 points away from breaking the NCAA women’s scoring record.
February 11, 2024: Clark stands just eight points away from the all-time DI scoring record after a 31-point effort at Nebraska, where the No. 2 Hawkeyes lost, 82-79, on Super Bowl Sunday. In the second quarter, she reached another milestone with her 1,000th career assist. Clark is the sixth member of the 1,000-assist club and the only one to have also scored more than 3,000 points.
Make that 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ assists for Caitlin Clark. 💥@CaitlinClark22 x @IowaWBB
📺: FOX/@CBBonFOX pic.twitter.com/QZhEORRyj4
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 11, 2024
February 15, 2024: SHE’S DONE IT! Clark has surpassed Kelsey Plum the all-time DI points leader, breaking the record with a quintessential long-range bomb from the center-court logo. Clark had her eyes on the history books from the opening tip, scoring each of Iowa’s eight points to begin the game and totaling up 3,569 points by the end of the night. The [Her]story maker finished the night with a career-high 49 points, shooting 16-for-31 from the field in addition to 8 free throws.
HISTORY ‼️ Caitlin Clark is the new NCAA Women’s Basketball’s All-Time Leading Scorer. 🐐#CaitlinCoverage x @statefarm
💻: PeacockI pic.twitter.com/c2Kdej2gIR
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 16, 2024
February 28, 2024: Another giant of the women’s basketball world felled by Caitlin Clark. Less than two weeks after dethroning Kelsey Plum as the NCAA’s all-time women’s scoring leader, Clark scored her 3,650th point in a 108-60 win over Minnesota to overtake former Kansas guard Lynette Woodard as the highest-scoring player in major-college women’s basketball — Woodard played in Lawrence from 1977-1981, when the sport was still governed by the AIAW.
The Hawkeye sensation continued to make history at The Barn, however, shattering the single-season three-point record — Clark’s team also broke the Big Ten’s single-game three-point record against the Gophers with 22 — and notching her 17th-career triple-double, now just second all time behind the great Sabrina Ionescu.
February 29, 2024: Clark announced that she will enter the 2024 WNBA Draft following this season, rather than using her final year of college eligibility. The Indiana Fever have the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) February 29, 2024
March 3, 2024: Clark finished with 35 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 93-83 win over No. 2 Ohio State, avenging a head-to-head loss in January. Just before halftime, Clark notched yet another all-time record, breaking Pete Maravich’s 54-year record for the most points in DI basketball history across either gender. The milestone came on an OSU technical foul as Clark knocked down back-to-back free throws.
She stands alone. 👑
Caitlin Clark is the new NCAA All-Time Scoring Leader.
📺: FOX/@CBBonFOX pic.twitter.com/LFLjh6aCa6
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 3, 2024
March 8, 2024: Just five days after breaking Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA DI point record, Clark passed Stephen Curry for most 3-pointers in a single season in NCAA DI basketball history. Clark achieved this feat in the fourth quarter of Iowa’s matchup with Penn State during the quarterfinals of the 2024 Big Ten tournament. She finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the Hawkeyes’ 95-62 victory.
CAITLIN 👏 CLARK 👏 @CaitlinClark22 x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/BX08zn7Ne4
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 9, 2024
March 10, 2024: Clark led Iowa to a third straight Big Ten tournament title in a 94-89 overtime victory over Nebraska. Clark finished with 34 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Her clutch layup with under 30 seconds to go in regulation sent the game to overtime.
March 25, 2024: ANOTHER ONE FOR CLARK! In the second-round game of the 2024 NCAA women’s tournament, Clark surpassed Kelsey Plum’s record once more and broke the NCAA single-season scoring record. Clark was able to drop 32 points, 8 rebounds and five threes to not only lead her team over West Virginia to advance to the Sweet 16 but give her a record-breaking 1,113 single-season points.
NEW RECORD 🤯@CaitlinClark22 sets the single-season record for most points scored in DI Women’s Basketball history!#MarchMadness x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/ocDrVxsDdv
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 26, 2024
April 1, 2024: On the very first possession of Iowa’s Elite Eight bout and national championship rematch with LSU, Clark broke Diana Taurasi’s women’s NCAA tournament three-point record with a deep three from the left wing, the 62nd of her March Madness career. Clark’s usual brilliance from deep takes another step up come March, as the Hawkeye star made 5.3 threes per game in her Big Dance run a year ago. Ultimately, Clark’s 41 points and 12 assists led Iowa to victory over LSU and into the 2024 Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio.
April 5, 2024: SHE’S BACK! Caitlin Clark returns to the national championship game for a second-straight season after her Hawkeyes outlasted UConn 71-69. Clark struggled with her shot early but still managed to post 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a near triple-double outing. The Hawkeye megastar will look to capture her elusive national championship crown Sunday against top overall seed South Carolina.
April 7, 2024: Another dose of heartbreak for Caitlin Clark as she fell 87-75 to South Carolina in the national championship game. It looked like the Hawkeye superstar was finally set to get Iowa over the hump, scoring 18 first-quarter points as her squad built a 27-20 lead, but Clark was unable to maintain her torrid pace and Gamecocks would rally to victory in the second half.
2022-23 Season
Caitlin Clark finished her junior season in the national championship game, but not on the winning side as LSU lifted the 2023 trophy. Despite that, she exited the NCAA tournament after etching her name in the record books and ended up winning the Naismith Trophy as the most outstanding player in women’s college basketball.
Here’s a look back her 2022-23 season:
Dec. 1, 2022: Clark nets 45 points in a tough 94-81 loss to NC State. It’s the first of four 40-point games this season.
Dec. 21, 2022: Clark records her 2,000th point in her 75th game in a blowout win over Dartmouth, tying Elena Delle Donne as the fastest women’s player to reach the milestone.
January 23, 2023: Clark helped knock off then-No. 2 Ohio State handing the Buckeyes their first loss of their season by notching her first triple-double with at least 15 assists.
February 26, 2023: Clark stuns No. 2 Indiana, beating the Hoosiers at the buzzer on a 3, 86-85.
March 5, 2023: Clark racks up the first-ever triple-double in the Big Ten championship game and moved into second in triple-doubles in women’s college basketball history. Clark had 30 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds.
Give an inch, she’ll take three 😏@CaitlinClark22 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ZeRdAMLzi5
— Iowa Women’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 5, 2023
March 26, 2023: In the Elite Eight matchup against Louisville, Clark puts up the first-ever 40-point triple-double in an NCAA tournament game. In the same outing, she became the first DI player to record over 900 points and 300 assists in a single season. In the 97-83 win, Clark recorded 41 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
March 31, 2023: Against undefeated defending national champ South Carolina, Clark took down the No. 1 seed as the first player in NCAA tournament history to score 40 in back-to-back games; it was also the most points against an undefeated opponent in a men’s or women’s tournament game. Clark’s impressive line: 41 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
April 2, 2023: Clark sets the record for most points in an NCAA tournament (191) surpassing Sheryl Swoopes, who previously held the record for decades. In the defeat in the title game, Clark had 30 points and made 8 3-pointers.
Clark’s previous milestones
While Clark’s third season was historic, that was nothing new for the Iowa native. Since her debut in 2020, the Hawkeyes star has reached several milestones, including leading the country in scoring in her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Nov. 25, 2020: In Clark’s first-ever collegiate game, she recorded 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals — all while shooting 58.8%.
Dec. 22, 2020: Clark registers her first triple-double of her college career with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the only one in her freshman season — she would record 10 more in the next two.
List of @B1Gwbball players with 4 triple-doubles in a single season: @CaitlinClark22
That’s it. That’s the list. pic.twitter.com/pYmzlcAQuA
— Iowa Women’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) January 21, 2022
Jan. 2, 2022: Clark hit 40 points in a game for the first time, reaching 44 against Evansville in a 93-56 win.
Jan. 16 and 20, 2022: In back-to-back games, Clark posted 30-point triple-doubles in conference wins (31-10-10 and 35-13-11). She became the first-ever player in DI basketball to achieve the feat.
Feb. 6, 2022: Clark racked up 46 points, her current career-high, in a loss against Michigan.