Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Passes Pete Maravich as Top Scorer in Major College Basketball History

The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball superstar added another scoring accolade to her résumé.

Iowa star Caitlin Clark is now the leading scorer in major college basketball history, men’s or women’s, having passed Hall of Famer Pete Maravich’s longtime mark of 3,667 points Sunday afternoon.

The 22-year-old guard passed Maravich in the second quarter of Sunday’s Senior Day matchup against No. 2 Ohio State. Clark entered Sunday’s game needing 18 points to surpass Maravich, and she passed Pistol Pete by making a pair of free throws in the final second of the first half.

The sold-out crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena erupted in cheers as Clark performed yet another historic feat. The accomplishment came in her 130th career game during her fourth collegiate season. Clark entered the game leading the nation in scoring at 32.2 points per game.

Maravich set the men’s major college record in 83 games over three varsity seasons (averaging 44.2 points per game) at LSU from 1967–68 through 1969–70, a mark that stood for 54 years.

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It’s just the latest accomplishment for Clark, who broke Lynette Woodard’s career scoring record for major women’s college basketball on Wednesday. Woodard was in attendance during Sunday’s game at Iowa, too.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark passed Pete Maravich as the top scorer in major college basketball history Sunday afternoon :: Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports

The guard broke the NCAA Division I women’s scoring record previously held by Kelsey Plum on Feb. 15. Clark also holds the Big Ten women’s basketball record and Iowa’s program record.

However, Clark entered Sunday’s game 234 points behind Pearl Moore, who recorded a record 3,884 varsity points at Francis Marion. Moore’s mark doesn’t include 177 points scored in junior college.

Clark announced her intention to declare for the 2024 WNBA draft Thursday, and she is expected to be the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever on April 15.

No. 6 Iowa (26–4, 15–3 Big Ten) went on to defeat Ohio State (25–4, 16–2), 93–83, ending the Buckeyes’ 15-game winning streak.