Caitlin Clark passes Pete Maravich, becomes NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer
Caitlin Clark is now alone at the top of the Division I college basketball all-time scoring list, men’s or women’s.
With a pair of made free throw attempts at the very end of the second quarter against Ohio State on Sunday in her career regular season finale, the Iowa star passed “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s 3,667 career points scored at LSU. Maravich’s mark stood for more than 50 years before being passed.
Clark recently passed the women’s all-time scoring mark, both the official record and what her coach considers to be the real mark set prior to the NCAA recognizing women’s college hoops.
Here was that record-breaking point:
The Iowa star passed the official scoring record, previously held by former Washington star Kelsey Plum, on Feb. 15. Two weeks later, she outpaced former Kansas star Lynette Woodard, who scored more than Plum but doesn’t have her scoring total recognized, having played women’s basketball during the AIAW age
And Clark does her scoring with flair, equally capable of putting the ball on the floor and fighting to the rim as she is of pouring in 30-plus-foot shots from the logo. She’s averaged more than 26 points per game all four years of her college career.
While Clark has passed Maravich in total points scored in a college career, some notable differences to the college game will mean some consider Maravich’s scoring mark still-untouchable. When Maravich played college basketball, freshman weren’t allowed to play varsity college sports, so he was limited to three years of competition to Clark’s four — Maravich scored 741 points as a freshman that don’t count to his record. Maravich also played prior to the advent of the 3-point line or the adoption of the shot clock.
As such, Maravich’s career mark of 44.3 points per game across 83 games is likely to be untouched for even more years to come.
Clark entered Sunday with 3650 points in 129 career games, scoring 28.3 per game on her career.
Sunday is also Clark’s final regular season game for Iowa. The Hawkeyes will play in the Big Ten Tournament and then surely the NCAA Tournament, where Clark will continue to star. But after the season ends, she’ll be off to the WNBA Draft on April 15 after declaring for the draft in late February.
“While this season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa,” Clark said in a lengthy statement announcing the decision. “I am excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft. It is impossible to fully express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me during my time at Iowa – my teammates, who made the last four years the best; my coaches, trainers and staff who always let me be me; Hawkeye fans who filled Carver every night; and everyone who came out to support us across the country, especially the young kids.
“Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without my family and friends who have been by my side through it all. Because of you, my dreams came true.”