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The stage is set for the coronation of Caitlin Clark As the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader when sixth-ranked Iowa closes the regular season against No. 2 Ohio State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday.
Four days after she broke up Lynette Woodard’s Most Important College Women’s RecordClark would pass Pete MaravichA total of 3,617 points if he scores 18 against the Buckeyes.
Woodard was among those in attendance at Carver-Hawkeye Arena to help Clark celebrate Senior Day. Also present were basketball great Maya Moore, who was Clark’s favorite player, and Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
On Thursday, Clark announced that he would enter the 2024 WNBA draft and skipping the fifth year of eligibility available to athletes who competed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is projected to be the Indiana Fever’s first overall pick, and the The WNBA is already seeing an increase in ticket sales.
Logitix, which researches prices on ticket resale platforms, reported an average selling price of $598 for a ticket for this game purchased since February 1.
“Listen, this is the biggest ticket on the planet right now,” Woodard said in an interview with ESPN before the game. “Hey, I’m going to enjoy this right now.”
Clark is all but assured of one or two more appearances at Iowa City Stadium after Sunday. Iowa is projected to be No. 2. for the NCAA Tournament, meaning he would be at home for the first two rounds.
Pearl Moore by Francis Marion holds the overall record for women with 4,061 points between 1975 and 1979 at the small college level in the AIAW. Moore scored 177 points at Anderson Junior College before enrolling at Francis Marion.
Clark is 411 behind Moore, and only has three to 10 more games left in an Iowa uniform, depending on how far the Hawkeyes advance in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
If Clark beats Maravich, the achievement will be subject to scrutiny.
Maravich’s all-time goal mark is one of the most notable in sports history: it was set in just 83 games over three seasons, between 1967 and 1970. In those days there was no shot clock or 3-point line. . The 3-point line was adopted in 1986.
Maravich averaged 44.2 points per game. He scored over 60 in a game four times, peaking at 69 against Alabama on February 7, 1970.
Clark is averaging 28.3 points for his career and will play in his 130th game on Sunday. Her career-best output was 49 points against Michigan on Feb. 15, when she passed Kelsey Plum as the NCAA Women’s Division I scoring leader.
Clark has 54 games with at least 30 points, the most of any men’s or women’s college basketball player in the last 25 years. She has six triple-doubles this season and 17 in her career.
With Clark as headliner, Iowa has helped sell out tickets or break an attendance record in 30 of 32 games this season. The only two games that didn’t happen were at a Thanksgiving tournament in Florida.
“She’s just a phenomenal player who has helped change women’s soccer,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “She has helped bring an enormous amount of light, respect and viewers to women’s soccer. She is incredible. She is a competitor.”
“You either love her or hate her, but usually you hate her because of how hard she competes. “I have enormous respect for someone who is so competitive and has never met an opportunity he didn’t like.”
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AP Freelance Writer John Bohnenkamp in Iowa City, Iowa, and AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Ann Arbor, Michigan, contributed to this report.
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