Caitlin Clark needed eight points to break the all-time NCAA women's scoring record against Michigan on Thursday. It took her just over two minutes of game time to get them.
The Iowa guard grabbed sole possession of the record with an absurdly deep three-point shot from the logo. She had said going in that she didn't want the game to stop to acknowledge her achievement but a timeout shortly after the shot gave the crowd a chance to mark the occasion.
Clark now has 3,528 points in her career and counting. She stands alone atop the record books for women's college basketball.
HISTORY ‼️ Caitlin Clark is the new NCAA Women’s Basketball’s All-Time Leading Scorer. 🐐#CaitlinCoverage x @statefarm
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 16, 2024
💻: PeacockI pic.twitter.com/c2Kdej2gIR
If you thought it Clark might be overawed by the moment, think again. Clark had 23 points and four assists in the first quarter.
Best memes and tweets after Caitlin Clark set new women's NCAA record
CAITLIN CLARK PASSES KELSEY PLUM TO BECOME THE ALL-TIME NCAAW LEADING SCORER 🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 16, 2024
CERTIFIED BUCKET 😤 pic.twitter.com/Xx6HjKnuhr
What a moment in Iowa City. Caitlin Clark scores the first eight points of the game and is now the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) February 16, 2024
Three shots. Three makes. And Caitlin Clark now stands atop the Division 1 scoring ranks. pic.twitter.com/mWi8hYlvvN
— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) February 16, 2024
What else but a logo-esque 3.
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) February 16, 2024
The crowd hit 116 decibels at Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointer, tying for the second loudest I’ve recorded in the arena (Sandfort 3 last year, Kemerer reversal vs. Penn State). Only her 3 vs. Indiana was louder.
The celebration cheer was 115 after the TO pic.twitter.com/APC2QAz3Wj
I have witnesses-- I said in the media room that Caitlin Clark would get an early layup, hit a three and then hit a logo three for the record.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) February 16, 2024
I wonder what the odds on that would have been.
Credit to Caitlin Clark for taking all of five trips up the court to break the scoring record tonight.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) February 16, 2024
Caitlin Clark needed all of 2 minutes and 8 seconds to get eight points for the NCAA all-time women's scoring record tonight. Her first three shots of the night—layup, three, bonkers-who-else-would-pull-up-from-this-deep three—and that's history.
— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) February 16, 2024
Pause on pickleball to watch Caitlin Clark break the scoring record! pic.twitter.com/1mxnq4alnF
— Dani Klupenger (@daniklup) February 16, 2024
Clark has won just about every individual award on the table in women's basketball. She is a two-time unanimous All-American with an eye on adding a third in 2024.
Of course, the big prize is one that only a team can achieve: A national championship. Clark had a record 191 points in the 2023 Women's NCAA Tournament but the Hawkeyes fell to LSU in the national championship game. The year before Iowa was upset in the second round by No. 10 seed Creighton. As a freshman, Clark reached the Sweet 16 before losing to No. 1 seed UConn.
Charlie Creme of ESPN has Iowa projected as a No. 2 seed going into this year's tournament. With Clark leading the way, you've got to think they have a chance.
With her climb up the record books, Clark passed former Washington point guard Kelsey Plum, who became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft. She won back-to-back WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023.
Clark should have her own shot at WNBA glory soon enough. But first, the tournament and a chance are more history.