Why Caitlin Clark’s NCAA scoring record will forever have an asterix

Caitlin Clark will become the NCAA’s all-time leading points scorer on Thursday night.

Clark’s No.4 Iowa Hawkeyes (22-3) take on the unranked Michigan Wolverines (16-9) with a place in the history books of women’s college basketball up for grabs.

Clark is eight points shy of breaking the NCAA’s all-time points recordCredit: Getty
The 22-year-old guard is eight points away from breaking Kelsey Plum’s record ahead of tonight’s game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Iowa star scored 31 points at Nebraska on Sunday to take her to within touching distance of the all-time record.

Plum, who played at Washington from 2013-2017, scored 3,527 points in 139 games.

In January, Clark moved past Jackie Stiles and Kelsey Mitchell into second place, becoming the Big Ten’s leading scorer in the process.

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Clark will most likely make quick work of surpassing Plum’s record.

She averages 32.1 points per game and has scored at least 26 points in every Big Ten contest this season.

Clark’s on-court prowess and charisma has helped lift the women’s college game to new heights, with the Hawkeyes becoming the first women’s basketball programme in Big Ten history to sell out every home game.

But while she is set to become the NCAA’s most successful shooter, she won’t be the No.1 scorer in the history of women’s college basketball.

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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 03: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes handles the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on February 03, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Former Kansas star Lynette Woodard owns that record having plundered 3,649 points over four seasons, in the late 1970s and early ’80s.

Woodard’s points tally is not officially recognised by the NCAA as they were all scored when women’s college sports had their own governing body.

At that time, women’s sports were overseen by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).

The NCAA launched its own women’s championships in 1981 and the AIAW folded a year later, taking Woodard’s points tally with it.

“It’s like we became second-class citizens,” said Marian Washington, Kansas women’s coach from 1973-2004. “All of our great athletes, their records were put on a separate page of (the NCAA) record book.”

Fans have long insisted Woodard shouldn’t be excluded from all-time records just because the NCAA excluded women’s sports at the time.

An NCAA spokesperson said in a statement that individual statistics established while schools were members of other associations “are not currently included in NCAA records books, regardless of gender.”

The spokesperson didn’t answer whether the association would consider integrating its statistics with the AIAW’s.

Will Clark declare for the WNBA?
Clark’s future will be one of the most talked about topics heading into this year’s WNBA Draft.

Players have until March to declare, or 48 hours after their final game if they make it to the postseason.

Clark has the option to exercise a fifth-year option of eligibility because she was a freshman during the Covid-affected 2020-21 season.

Indiana Fever selects first for the second consecutive year.

Clark is the consensus No.1 pick if she does decide to declare, with Draft day set for April 15.

Clark moved to No.2 in the NCAA’s list of all-time points scorers at Nebraska in JanuaryCredit: Getty
How much does Clark make in NIL?
The introduction of NIL has forever changed college sports, allowing its player to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL).

In June, 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the NCAA was not legally allowed to limit any education-related payments to students and players.

Previously, players could not accept money from businesses in exchange for using them in products or advertisements.

Now top college stars like Clark are able to earn an income from their nationwide popularity.

Clark, who was named the 2023 Naismith National Player of the Year, has an NIL deal with Gatordade.

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The financial terms of Clark’s multi-year partnership with Gatorade have not been disclosed.

However the drinks company did announce that it will contribute $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation, a charity committed to enhancing the lives of young people through education, nutrition, and sports.