Star player on the University of Iowa girls Basketball team Caitlin Clark recently attained an accomplishment that is being spread throughout the country. The 6 foot star has been a key player to the Division 1 team since her freshman season, admired for her audacious range on the court. She has hit over 1,200 3-pointers throughout her career so far, currently averaging about 32 pointers per game.
Although it is her senior season, COVID 19 grants Clark the right to play another year before she is eligible for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). While Clark has mentioned that she would treat that 2023-2024 season “like it was my last year”, she has not yet expressed her opinions on playing professionally. Despite her decisions now, it is assumed that she is likely to be the top WNBA Draft pick in 2024. There is a fair chance that Clark’s presence in the WNBA will bring extensive attention to the association entirely.
Thursday February 15, was different from any other career game she has played in the best way possible. The news broke that Kelsey Plum, the previous all-time NCAA scoring record, had been replaced.
In an anticipated Iowa home game against the Michigan Wolverines, Clark started off strong with 8 points, leaving just three more points to break the record. When her anticipated free throw made its way through the net with ease at only 7 minutes and 40 seconds left in the first quarter, the time had come. A timeout had been called, as Clark embraced her loving and supportive teammates. At halftime she expressed “Lucky to do it, because I have really good teammates, really good coaches and a great support system that surrounds me- but we need to play better defense.” She was truly in it for the game, and loved every second of it- but that wasn’t Clark’s only accomplishment of the night.
As mentioned before, the game had basically just started. She ended up scoring a career high: 49 points, taking her team to victory with a final school of 106-89. The next record she is prepared to hit is the all-time major women’s college scoring record of 3,649 currently held by longtime player Lynette Woodward who retired in 1981.
As Clark attracts more social media attention, women’s sports are truly beginning to be recognized and admired. Her presence on the court will change the sports industry entirely, and it is possible that she will win a 3 point contest against one of the best NBA players in the country- actually, it’s not just possible; it’s definite. Because Caitlin Clark is one of the best out there and she is just getting started.
“Y’all knew I was gonna shoot a logo three for the record” Clark proclaimed with confidence in her post game interview. Her positive mindset, sports fans, is why she will be the next big thing in the WNBA
