IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — It didn't take long for Kaitlyn Clark to become the NCAA women's career scoring leader when No. 4 Iowa hosts Michigan.
Clark needs eight points to get through Thursday night's game Kelsey Plum's total was 3,527 points. Clark has scored at least eight in the first quarter in 17 of 25 games this season, and he has never played a halftime with fewer than that.
“Obviously, she's going to blow it out of the water,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “So it will be fun to see how many points she adds to that.”
Clark and his dynamic game captivated the nation over two seasons, including an appearance in the NCAA title game last year and being named AP Player of the Year. His long 3-point shots and flashy passes fueled interest, rather than seeking his record. Women's sports to an unprecedented extent. Arenas are sold out His games, home and away, and television ratings have never been higher.
It was all more than Clark could have imagined 6-foot guard from West Des Moines Stayed in-state and chose Iowa over Notre Dame in November 2019.
“I really dreamed of doing big things, playing in front of big crowds, going to the Final Four, maybe not at this level,” Clarke said. “I think it's really hard to dream. You can always exceed expectations, even your own, and I think that's one of the best parts.
Although his basketball commitments and endorsement deals (such as State Farm commercials) demand his time, he said he's the same person who showed up on campus four years ago.
“I'm doing my business like I did when I was a freshman during COVID,” said Clark, who still has another season of eligibility remaining if he wants to. “Of course, my life has changed somewhat. I still live the same way. I still act like a 22-year-old college kid.
He said he still cleans his apartment, does laundry, plays video games, hangs out with friends and does schoolwork.
“The best way is to unplug your phone, get off social media, and enjoy the people around you and the moments that happen,” she said.
His run for the record may have come earlier, but it came back to Carver-Hockey Arena, where ticket resale prices for the Michigan game Up to hundreds of dollars By the thousands. Fans will start lining up outside the arena again, many wearing the black and gold number. They wear 22 jerseys and hold placards paying tribute.
Unlike Sunday's loss at Nebraska, when Fox drew nearly 2 million viewers for the game, this one will be streamed on the Peacock.
After Clark eclipses the NCAA record plum set in 2017, her next goal will be Kansas star Lynette Woodard's record of 3,649 from 1977-81. During Woodard's tenure, women's sports were governed by the Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Pearl Moore by Frances Marion The women's all-time record was 4,061 points from 1975-79.
“I understand the magnitude of it,” Clark said. “It's just come with how my four years have gone, and it's crazy to look back at how quickly everything has gone. I'm really thankful and grateful.”
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