After announcing she was declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft this past Thursday, February 29, 2024, Iowa Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark took the NCAA basketball world by storm yet again when she broke the NCAA Division I scoring record amongst men and women yesterday.
The 22-year-old etched her name in the NCAA record book on Senior Sunday when she helped the No. 6 Hawkeyes clinch a 93-83 win against No. 2 Ohio State. Clark broke a 54-year-old record that no men’s or women’s NCAA basketball athlete has been able to break until now.
Caitlin entered yesterday’s game 18 points short of Pete Maravich’s all-time leading scoring record of 3,667 points after 83 games and his three-year career at LSU that ended in 1970. Eighteen points was not enough for the NCAA superstar as Clark clinched 35 points in yesterday’s game, amassing 3,685 points amidst 130 collegiate games.
CAITLIN CLARK PASSES PETE MARAVICH TO BECOME THE NCAA'S MEN'S & WOMEN'S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER ♨️
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 3, 2024
HISTORY MADE 🐐 pic.twitter.com/aCLEtN6vOP
This feat came just four days after Clark had broken the NCAA women’s all-time leading scorer record in her game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Clark contributed 33 points to her team’s 108-60 victory over the Golden Gophers. Her 33rd and final point of the match secured her record of 3,650 points, surpassing Kansas Jayhawks legend Lynette Woodard’s 1981 record of 3,649 all-time points.
After announcing she was forgoing her fifth year of eligibility, awarded to players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Hawkeyes star has been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Indiana Fever have the No. 1 WNBA Draft pick. Due to her superstar accolade and projection as the first overall pick, Indiana Fever ticket prices have skyrocketed like never before. The average ticket price for a Fever game next season has more than doubled since the 22-year-old declared for the draft.
After Caitlin Clark declared for the WNBA draft, Fever ticket prices have MORE THAN DOUBLED 💰📈
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 2, 2024
Indy holds the No. 1 pick in the draft 👀
(via @VividSeats) pic.twitter.com/d8sj8Ryxns
With her recent feats and declaration for the 2024 WNBA Draft, this year’s March Madness will be exciting as fans watch the Iowa superstar compete in the biggest and most unpredictable basketball tournament of the year.
The 2024 March Madness tournament is right around the corner as Selection Sunday occurs on March 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET. While all the teams competing in the tournament have not officially been declared or selected, specific teams are sure to compete and already have odds of winning the NCAA Championship Game on Sunday, April 17, at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Despite being ranked second in the Big Ten with a record of 15-3, the Hawkeyes odds for the NCAA Championship fell from +700 to +850 when they lost 69-86 to No. 3 Indiana on Thursday, February 22. The Hawkeyes excelled in last year’s tournament but fell short in the NCAA Championship Game when they lost to LSU 85-102.
The defending national title champions are ranked second in the SEC and ninth overall, with a record of 13-3. Their odds for the championship title have increased from +750 to +650, as the team is currently on an eight-game winning streak.
With the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten and No. 1 spot overall, the South Carolina Gamecocks are currently heavy favorites to win the championship title. The Gamecocks are undefeated as they sit at a record of 16-0.
South Carolina’s odds increased following their impeccable performance against Kentucky on Sunday, February 25, when the Gamecocks clinched their 103-55 win with a 48-point difference. This win heavily boosted the Gamecocks national title odds from +110 to -130.
While South Carolina is favored to win the national title, March Madness remains one of the most unpredictable tournaments in the sports world as 68 teams compete against each other for the national title. With so many contenders, the fate of the NCAA title continues to be uncertain year after year.
This year’s NCAA March Madness tournament is one to watch as it will be Caitlin Clark’s last year competing in the tournament and fans’ last time to watch the Iowa superstar take the college world by storm one final time.
