Can Caitlin Clark break the NCAA scoring record? Tracking her progress

Caitlin Clark is more than the best passer in college basketball and a logo-shooting supernova: She’s about to become the best scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history, and maybe NCAA history. 

Clark, a senior All-American who led Iowa to the national championship game in April, is on pace to top Kelsey Plum’s scoring record (3,527), set in 2017. Perhaps more impressively, she could also top the men’s scoring record, set by Pete Maravich in 1970 (3,667 points), back before the 3-point line existed. 

Clark started the 2023-24 season with 2,717 career points, and through 11 games she’s averaging 29.5 points per game. Given that she’s never averaged less than 26.6 per season, she’ll likely break Plum’s record toward the end of February (provided she stays healthy). Then again, this is a player who has a history of 40-point performances, so it could happen sooner. 

Should Clark return for a fifth year – because of COVID she has one extra season of eligibility if she wants it – she would undoubtedly shatter both records.

How many points did Caitlin Clark score in Iowa’s last game?

at Wisconsin, Dec. 10: Clark notched a team-high 28 points in Iowa’s 87-65 win over the Badgers. The game came four days after the senior passed the 3,000-point mark. Her final stat line on Sunday included nine rebounds and five assists. She made four 3-point shots against Wisconsin, extending her NCAA-best streak of hitting a trey to 69 consecutive games.

How many career points does Caitlin Clark have?

Caitlin Clark has 3,041 career points (and counting!) after her 28-point performance against Wisconsin.

Points shy of breaking Plum’s record: 487

Points shy of breaking Maravich’s record: 627

Can Caitlin Clark break the scoring record?

Absolutely. The real question is, can Clark break both scoring records? Former Washington All-American Plum, now a WNBA All-Star with the Las Vegas Aces, holds the Division I women’s record with 3,527 points. Pete Maravich holds the Division I men’s record with 3,667. Depending on how deep Iowa plays into the postseason, both of those records are within reach for Clark.

What is Caitlin Clark’s shooting percentage?

In a word: impressive. Clark is currently connecting on 46.8% of her shots and 37.6% from three-point range, eye-popping when you consider the attention she demands from defenses. Her ability to score consistently from long-range is especially impressive considering that, according to ESPN, 68% of 3s she takes are from 25 feet or deeper (the college 3-point line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches).

Caitlin Clark scores 3,000 points

On Dec. 6, Clark crossed the 3,000-point milestone with 6:10 to play in the third quarter vs. Iowa State, fittingly, on a deep 3, becoming just the 15th player in the NCAA era to do so. (Former Iowa State All-American Ashley Joens was the most recent player to hit that mark, scoring 3,060 points from 2018-2023.) By hitting 3,000 points, Clark becomes the first college player, men’s or women’s, to tally 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists.

What is Caitlin Clark’s highest-scoring game?

Clark’s highest-scoring game came early in the 2023-24 season, when she hung 44 points on Virginia Tech, another 2023 Final Four participant. Clark shot 13-for-31 that game, including 5-for-16 from 3. She also grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six assists in the 80-76 win.

Is Caitlin Clark a senior?

Caitlin Clark is indeed a senior — but she’s got another year of eligibility left if she wants it.

Clark is part of the last ‘COVID class’ in the NCAA, where athletes who played in the 2020-2021 season, Clark’s freshman year, were awarded a fifth year of eligibility because of how wonky the pandemic made college sports. Schools are inconsistent in how they notate this on their websites: Clark is listed as a senior on Iowa’s roster, whereas Angel Reese, who is the same recruiting class as Clark, is listed as a junior on LSU’s roster.

Should she decide to go pro after this season, Clark is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

How many points does Caitlin Clark average per game?

Through 11 games in the 2023-24 season, Clark is averaging 29.5 points. Over her career, she’s averaged 27.4 points.

One of the most impressive parts of Clark’s game is that she’s averaged more points each season. Here’s how it breaks down:

Freshman year: 26.6 pointsSophomore year: 27.0 pointsJunior year: 27.8 pointsSenior year: 29.5 points

Caitlin Clark game-by-game points in 2023-24

Here’s a breakdown of Clark’s scoring this season for the Hawkeyes:

at Wisconsin, 12/10/2023: 28 pointsvs. Iowa State, 12/6/2023: 35 pointsvs. Bowling Green, 12/2/2023: 24 pointsvs. Kansas State, 11/26/2023: 32 pointsvs. Florida Gulf Coast, 11/25/2023: 21 pointsvs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 11/24/2023: 29 pointsvs. Drake, 11/19/2023: 35 pointsvs. Kansas State, 11/16/2023: 24 pointsat UNI, 11/12/2023: 24 pointsvs. Virginia Tech, 11/9/2023: 44 pointsvs. FDU, 11/6/2023: 28 points

When does Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball play again?

Clark will be back in action when the Hawkeyes host Cleveland State on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media @Lindsay_Schnell