Caitlin Clark Says She Will Leave If Lisa Bluder Coaches Again….

When it comes to Caitlin Clark, it seems new history is always on the horizon. On Wednesday, it was the chance to set the Big Ten all-time scoring record and move up the NCAA all-time scoring list.

Clark, who entered Iowa’s game against Northwestern fourth on the NCAA all-time scoring list with 3,389 career points, needed five points to jump Jackie Stiles (Missouri State). Clark surpassed that mark before the first quarter ended and leaped Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State) for second place a frame later, scoring her 3,403rd career point. That mark also sets the Big Ten all-time scoring record.

Clark is chasing Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum for the women’s all-time scoring record (3,527 points). Pete Maravich, who played at LSU from the 1967-68 to 1969-70 seasons, holds the all-time record for both men’s and women’s basketball with 3,667 career points.

“I think the coolest thing is just the names that I get to be around,” Clark said postgame. “Those are people that I grew up watching, especially Brittney Griner, Kelsey Mitchell, those are really, really great players, people that are still playing our game at the very highest level, people that you watch night in and night out. So it’s just special for me to be in the same area as them and obviously, I have a lot of really good teammates that have allowed me to do my thing.”

With a sold-out crowd of 7,039 anticipated for Wednesday’s game, this is by far the biggest crowd Clark has played in front of at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The first time Clark played in the Northwestern arena on Jan. 9, 2021, there were no fans in the stands because of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Wildcats won 77-67. The second time on Jan. 28, 2022, there was an announced attendance of just 1,578 for Iowa’s 72-67 overtime win.

“Obviously, I started in COVID-19, where it’s just family, and now, every single game I play in, it’s all sold out,” Clark said. “So it’s not something you ever take for granted. I think it’s kind of crazy people are screaming my name so much. It’s not something you really ever get used to.

“This (game) was one that was definitely circled on my calendar because I know the amount of Iowa fans in the Chicago area. So I was super excited to come here, I love this gym and coach Joe (McKeown). I have so much respect for him. I think he’s amazing. He’s amazing for women’s basketball. And we’ve had a lot of really good battles in this arena.”

Through her Iowa career, Clark became the first Division I women’s basketball player in NCAA history with a 40-point triple-double, the first player with 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists and has tallied more 30-point games than any player in the last 25 years.

Clark is averaging a career-high 32 points per game this season, adding 7.1 rebounds and 7.6 assists. Against Northwestern, Clark logged 35 points and 10 assists en route to her 54th career double-double. She finished 11-of-22 shooting, missing 9 of 12 3-pointers, but went 10-for-10 from the line. Clark was pulled with 4:25 left in the game to a standing ovation.

No. 3 Iowa ousted Northwestern 110-74 to improve to 20-2 overall and 9-1 in conference.