In a monumental moment for college basketball, Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark shattered “Pistol Pete” Maravich’s long-standing scoring record on Sunday. In a face-off between No. 6 Iowa and No. 2 Ohio State, the 22-year-old senior surpassed the 3,667-point benchmark set by Maravich in 1970 with a pair of free throws. The arena erupted in cheers as Clark made the game-changing shot, leading her team to a 93-83 win.
Clark, a native of Iowa, has been the star player for the Hawkeyes for the past four seasons. Her record-breaking achievement on Sunday was met with widespread praise, including from high-profile politicians in her home state.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) congratulated Clark on Twitter, writing “History is made! Congrats to all-time leading scorer [Caitlin Clark]”. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also praised Clark, calling her “the gr8est college bball player EVER” and “the GOAT” in a post on Twitter.
Despite breaking Maravich’s record, there have been some changes in college basketball since he played for LSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. One major difference is that Maravich played at a time before freshman eligibility for varsity teams.
Maravich was limited to two-point shots, while Clark has the advantage of being able to shoot three-pointers. The three-point shot was not universally adopted by the NCAA until 1986, according to Sports Illustrated. Maravich went on to play in the NBA for 10 years before his untimely death from a heart attack in 1988 at the age of 40.
Last week, Clark also broke the record for the most points scored in major women’s college basketball, surpassing the 3,649-point record set by Lynette Woodard during her time at Kansas from 1977 to 1981. This impressive achievement solidifies Clark’s place as one of the greatest players in women’s college basketball history.
Clark also has several NIL (name, image, and likeness) partnerships and three gold medals under her belt. And her record-breaking performance has caught the attention of WNBA teams, as she announced on Thursday that she will be entering the WNBA Draft.
While Clark’s individual success is remarkable, her focus remains on leading her team to victory in the upcoming March Madness tournament.
Last year, the Hawkeyes were defeated by LSU in the championship game, and they are determined to make it back and take home the title this year. Clark’s record-breaking performance has surely given her team a boost of confidence as they head into the tournament.
Caitlin Clark’s historic achievement on the court has solidified her place as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. Breaking Maravich’s record, which has stood for over 50 years, is a testament to her talent and hard work.
