Caitlin Clark made his exit known.
Caitlin Clark declared his retirement today, February 8, 2024
In Wednesday night’s 110-74 victory over Northwestern, Iowa star Caitlin Clark achieved another milestone on her long list of accomplishments. She now sits second on the NCAA women’s all-time scoring chart.
With 4:58 remaining in the second quarter, Clark—the current Naismith women’s collegiate player of the year—passed former Ohio State standout Kelsey Mitchell (3,402) with a layup. She was fourth on the career scoring chart going into Wednesday’s game, four points behind Jackie Stiles of Missouri State and thirteen behind Mitchell. She overcame Stiles with Clark’s second 3-pointer of the first quarter.
In addition to surpassing Mitchell as the Big Ten’s all-time top scorer, Clark finished with 35 points to match her career-long record of five straight 30-point games. Clark, who currently has 3,424 career points, will aim to surpass Kelsey Plum of Washington, who currently holds the NCAA all-time scoring record of 3,527 points
Clark remarked, “The names I get to be around are just the coolest thing.” “Those are the players I grew up watching, especially Kelsey Mitchell and Brittney Griner. They are really talented athletes who continue to compete at the highest level and are people you watch every night of the week.
It’s just unique for me to be in the same vicinity as them.
In addition, Clark had a block, two steals, six rebounds, and ten assists. In 32 minutes, she made all 10 of her free throws but only managed to shoot 3-of-12 from three-point range.
“Beyond someone of Kelsey Mitchell’s caliber, having this many games remaining is remarkable,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder remarked. “I’m very pleased with her, and she did a tremendous job tonight with her ten assists.”
Bluder went on, “She had a pass to Hannah [Stuelke] at the end of the shot clock tonight that was absolutely unbelievable.” It was absurd. I adore taking in the sights.”
As a result of a string of accomplishments, West Des Moines, Iowa native Clark, a senior, holds the record for most points, assists, and 3-pointers in Iowa history. To break Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender’s Big Ten record, she will need to make eighteen field goals.
Clark is on track to surpass Plum’s scoring record on February 15 against Michigan, averaging 32.1 points per game.
Clark bemoaned her poor outside shooting on Wednesday, but in the fourth quarter, she found herself alone for an uncontested layup and attacked the hoop multiple times.
According to Northwestern forward Paige Mott, “she’s a fantastic player.” “We did a great job of guarding her on the 3-point line, but we simply forgot that she could drive and make layups. She is capable of more things. Another head emerges when you remove one of the heads.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Clark ended January with 275 points, making history as the fifth player in the previous 25 seasons to score 250 or more points twice in a single month. In January 2021, her point total was 304.
In front of the first-ever sellout crowd of 7,039 for a women’s basketball game at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena, Clark faced Iowa, the 2023 national runner-up. Throughout the season, she and the Hawkeyes have brought in record numbers to neutral and road locations.
A number of spectators told ESPN that they arrived at the venue, which has primarily general admission seating, more than five hours before tipoff in order to get in line. After leaving the court, Clark signed autographs in the visitors’ tunnel amid a crush of cameras and police officers from Northwestern and Iowa.
“At 22 years old, I find it difficult to comprehend,” Clark remarked. “Playing in these settings with my closest friends is something that, when my basketball career is done and I look back on it, I’ll say, ‘Wow, those are some of the best memories of my life.'”
