Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates during a Senior Day ceremony after Sunday’s win over Ohio State in Iowa City, Iowa. Cliff Jett/Associated Press
Caitlin Clark broke three major college basketball records in less than three weeks.
The Iowa State superstar is finally able to breathe again. “It’s hard to understand everything that’s going on because I’m so focused on this team winning and being a great team,” she said. “I’m trying to enjoy this moment.”
Clark’s whirlwind regular season ended Sunday as the No. 6 Hawkeyes defeated No. 4 Ohio State 2, 93-83, in Iowa City, passing Pete Maravich as the NCAA Division I leading scorer. Four days earlier she had broken Lynette Woodard’s women’s college record, and two weeks earlier she had broken Kelsey Plumb’s Division I record.
Maravich’s 54-year record is considered the Holy Grail, with Maravich scoring 3,667 points in 83 games over three seasons at LSU (1967-1970), but not scoring 3 points, resulting in many Observers will want to put an asterisk on Clark’s accomplishments. scoreline and shot clock. Clark, who scored 35 points against the Buckeyes and made a name for himself with his 3-point shooting, enters the Big Ten Tournament with 3,685 points in 130 games.
“We hope this will further advance the women’s sport,” Iowa coach Lisa Bruder said. “But for me, I don’t need to break the men’s record to be recognized. You don’t have to do this. Breaking Lynette’s record meant a lot. I respect Pistol Pete, but at the same time I don’t want it to become an obstacle for women’s track and field. ”
Clark, who announced last week that she will enter the 2024 WNBA Draft, hopes she will be remembered for more than just setting her record at Iowa. she said.
“I hope people remember me for the way I played with a smile and my competitive spirit,” she said. “Of course, they remember not only the wins, but also the fun my teammates and I had together.”
Since arriving at Iowa in 2020, the attention on Clark has increased each season, especially after leading the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Championship Game last year.
Her name, image, and likeness associated with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and more have made her one of the most high-profile athletes in the country, both in college and in the pros. His record-breaking record, coupled with his flamboyant style of play, attracted media attention that would surprise most 22-year-olds.
“Most of my maturation and growth has been dealing with that and balancing the noise around me with everything that’s going on around me,” she said. “And obviously, that can be difficult at times. But I would never change it for the good of the world. »
The Hawkeyes won’t play until the Big Ten Tournament begins later this week. Since they are the No. 2 seed, they won’t play until Friday’s quarterfinals in Minneapolis. She would go into the conference playoffs and the national championship without setting a record.
That she will enter her final game at the University of Iowa at the top of the NCAA scoring list is something she hasn’t fully grasped yet. “It’s really crazy to think about,” she said. “If you had told me that before my college career started, I would have laughed in your face and said, ‘No, you’re crazy,'” she said. Ta. “I was still able to score the ball. People don’t realize how many players before me were able to score the ball at such a high rate and do it with such a good team. yeah.
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