Caitlin Clark ultimate guide: The Iowa senior’s pursuit of the NCAA scoring record

Caitlin Clark‘s junior season at Iowa was epic. In leading the Hawkeyes to their first Final Four in 30 years, the point guard became the first player in NCAA Division I history with 900 points and 300 assists in a season, then swept every national player of the year award.

This season, Clark has another shot at etching her name in the record books: The 6-foot-0 senior could break Kelsey Plum’s mark for most career points in Division I history and on Wednesday became the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer.

We’re tracking all of Clark’s milestones and pursuit of the NCAA career scoring mark during the 2023-24 season.

Clark is averaging 32.1 points per game this season. For her career, Clark has:

• 50 30-point games (including 13 this season), the most by a Division I player in the last 25 seasons

• 15 triple-doubles (including four this season), which ranks second in D-I history behind Sabrina Ionescu (26)

• 11 40-point games (including three this season), the most by any D-I player over the last 25 seasons

Check back often as we’ll update Clark’s numbers every time Iowa plays.

All stats updated through Jan. 31.

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Caitlin Clark’s 35-point performance pushes Iowa to blowout win over Northwestern

Caitlin Clark moves into second place on the NCAA’s all-time leading scorers list in women’s basketball as Iowa cruises past Northwestern.

Chasing Plum

Kelsey Plum closed her college career at Washington with 3,527 points, the NCAA Division I scoring record. Through her most recent game on Jan. 31, Caitlin Clark has 3,424 points. Here’s a look at the top 10:

1. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2013-17): 3,527
2. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-24): 3,424
3. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2014-18): 3,402
4. Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 3,393
5. Brittney Griner, Baylor (2009-13): 3,283
6. Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-89): 3,122
7. Lorri Baumann, Drake (1980-84): 3,115
8. Jerica Coley, FIU (2010-14): 3,107
9. Rachel Banham, Minnesota (2011-16): 3,093
10. Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2018-23): 3,060

Caitlin Clark became the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten history AND the No. 2 all-time scoring leader in D-I women’s basketball history on the same night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uoP7fJUucF

— ESPN (@espn) February 1, 2024

When does Iowa play next?

Next game: Saturday, Feb. 3 at Maryland, 8 p.m. ET

A look at the Hawkeyes’ schedule, with Caitlin Clark’s line score from each game.

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Caitlin Clark moves into second place in all-time NCAA scoring with layup

Caitlin Clark moves up to 3,403 career points, passing Kelsey Mitchell for 2nd in D-I history in career points with a left-handed layup.

Recent news

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Caitlin Clark makes an impressive pass for the Iowa bucket

Caitlin Clark finds her teammate underneath the basket with a pretty pass for the easy Iowa basket.

What other records is Clark closing in on?

Most career points per game

Clark’s career scoring average is on pace to be the second-most by a player in Division I history (minimum 1,500 points).

Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State (1985-89): 28.4 PPG
Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2020-24): 28.1 PPG
Sandra Hodge, New Orleans (1980-84): 26.7 PPG
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (2009-13): 26.7 PPG
Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (1997-2001): 26.3 PPG

Most points in a season

Caitlin Clark’s scoring average has improved each season. She scored 799 points in 30 games as a freshman (26.6 PPG) and 863 points in 32 games (27.0 PPG) as a sophomore. As a junior last season, Clark tallied 1,055 points over 38 games (27.8 PPG). Clark could set the Division I single-season points record as a senior. Clark has 707 points this season.

2016-17, Kelsey Plum, Washington: 1,109
2022-23, Maddy Siegrist, Villanova: 1,081
2000-01, Jackie Stiles, Missouri State: 1,062
2022-23, Caitlin Clark, Iowa: 1,055

More on Clark

Who are the top 25 players in women’s college basketball?

Twenty-one ESPN analysts, broadcasters and reporters voted in December to determine ESPN’s updated player rankings. Caitlin Clark, who was a unanimous No. 1, led the way, but nine players, including three freshmen, made their debut in the 2023-24 list.

Caitlin Clark took the sports world by storm: What’s the encore?

Caitlin Clark led Iowa to new heights and became a sports superhero in the Midwest with one of the game’s greatest NCAA tournament runs. In November, Michael Voepel examined what’s next for the senior.

Why Caitlin Clark is the most exciting player in March Madness

Steph Curry, Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu and more break down their favorite parts of Caitlin Clark’s game, how the Iowa star hits logo 3s and tallies triple-doubles.

There have been some great offensive players in WCBB the last 20 years (Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, EDD, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum). I believe @CaitlinClark22 is the best player on the offensive end since Diana Taurasi. pic.twitter.com/mlPQHmypms

— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) January 8, 2024

What is Clark’s career high?

While Caitlin Clark scored 44 points in Iowa’s win over Virginia Tech in November and 45 in an overtime loss to Ohio State on Jan. 21, her career high came on Feb. 6, 2022, as a sophomore. Clark scored 46 points, hitting 14-for-29 from the field and 6-for-13 on 3-pointers, in a 98-90 loss at Michigan. She also had 10 assists in the game and went 12 of 14 on free throws.

Additionally, for her career, Clark:

• is the first D-I women’s player in the last 25 years to score 40 points and hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in the same game

• is the second D-I women’s player in the last 25 years to score at least 35 points in four consecutive games

• is the first player in D-I history with 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists

• led Division I in assists per game in each of the last two seasons

Clark projected as No. 1 WNBA draft pick, but …

WNBA mock draft: Clark is No. 1 — if she declares

The Indiana Fever won the WNBA draft lottery in December, and Caitlin Clark is the projected No. 1 overall pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft.

Clark turned 22 in January and is eligible for the April 15 draft. However, Clark — and the rest of this year’s college seniors — could return for a fifth NCAA season in 2024-25 because of the COVID-19 waiver. And Clark has said she likely won’t make a decision on declaring for the draft until Iowa’s season ends. (Players have 48 hours following the conclusion of their final game of the season to declare for the draft.)

“I think it’s very similar to my college decision. It’s like I’m in the recruiting process again,” she said. “The biggest thing is I’m just going to trust my gut.”

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