DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa senior Caitlin Clark became the 15th NCAA Division I women’s player — and third Iowan — to surpass the 3,000-point mark in a win Dec. 6 against Iowa State.
Since then, the Hawkeyes star has climbed up to fourth on the NCAA’s all-time scoring list. In her last two games she scored a season-high 45 points in a 100-92 loss Jan. 21 at Ohio State and had 38 in a 92-73 win Jan. 27 against Nebraska.
Clark now has 3,389 career points. That’s 138 points behind former Washington star Kelsey Plum, the NCAA’s record-holder who scored 3,527 between 2013-2017. Clark most recently passed former Baylor star Brittney Griner, who had 3,283 career points. Next up: Missouri State legend Jackie Stiles, who is 4 points ahead of Clark.
The other Iowans in the 3,000 club include Lorri Bauman, who scored 3,115 points for Drake between 1980 and 1984, and Ashley Joens, who scored 3,060 points at Iowa State between 2018 and 2023.
Bauman, of Des Moines, starred at East High School, where she scored 3,010 career points and helped the Scarlets win the 1979 state championship.
Joens, of Iowa City, scored 2,178 points at City High, where she was a first-team all-state selection all four years.
Clark, of West Des Moines, scored 2,547 points for Dowling Catholic. She was a first-team all-state selection her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, and was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year.
NCAA women’s basketball career scoring leaders
- Kelsey Plum, Washington — 3,527
- Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State — 3,402
- Jackie Stiles, Missouri State — 3,393
- *Caitlin Clark, Iowa — 3,389
- Brittney Griner, Baylor — 3,283
- Patricia Hoskins, Mississippi Valley State — 3,122
- Lorri Bauman, Drake — 3,115
- Jerica Coley, FIU — 3,107
- Rachel Banham, Minnesota — 3,093
- Ashley Joens, Iowa State — 3,060
* — Clark is the only active player in the top 10.
David Purdy
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes shoots and scores on a three-pointer to surpass 3,000 career points against Nyamer Diew #5 and Addy Brown #24 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half at Hilton Coliseum on December 6, 2023 in Ames, Iowa. The Hawkeyes won 67-58.
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, right, celebrates in front of Michigan State guard Moira Joiner, left, after her three-point basket at the end of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 76-73.
