Caitlin Clark makes basketball history
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Caitlin Clark surrounded by teammates. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark has done it. She's now the all-time leader in NCAA DI women's basketball scoring history, breaking Kelsey Plum’s record on Thursday in a 106-89 win over Michigan.
- Clark did it in style, breaking the record with a logo heave, and scoring a career-high 49 points in the win.
- She scored or assisted on 79 of Iowa's 106 points on Thursday, the most in a game by a DI player in the last 25 seasons according to ESPN.
Big picture: At 3,569 career points, Clark broke the record with four games to play in the regular season, giving her time to extend her lead.
- She leads Division I in scoring, with 16 30-point games just this season.
- Her 15 triple-doubles are second only to Sabrina Ionescu (26) in her career.
"I'm just really grateful, thankful for everyone who came out tonight and supports our team night in and night out," Clark said after the game.
- "I don't know if you can really script it any better. Just to do it in this fashion, I'm very grateful. Very thankful to be surrounded by so many people that have been my foundation."
Looking ahead: Clark has a chance to pass Pete Maravich’s NCAA record for men’s or women’s basketball of 3,667 points.
- She's currently on pace, and has the final games of the regular season, as well as the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, to do so.
- Iowa is also chasing the Big Ten regular season title, with a crucial matchup against Ohio State coming up in early March.
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Lindsey Horan apologizes for fan comments
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Lindsey Horan (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
USWNT captain Lindsey Horan apologized to fans on Thursday for comments she made about their knowledge of the game.
Background: In a Feb. 1st article for The Athletic, Horan said that "American soccer fans, most of them aren't smart. They don't know the game. They don't understand. [But] it's getting better and better."
- She continued: "I'm gonna piss off some people, but the game is growing in the U.S. People are more and more knowledgeable, but so much of the time people take what the commentators say, right? My mom does it! My mom says, 'Julie Foudy said you had such a good game!' And I'm here, just going, 'I was f---ing s--- today.'"
On Thursday, Horan issued a statement apologizing for the comments.
- "First and foremost, I would like to apologize to our fans," Horan said during media availability. "Some of my comments were poorly expressed and there was a massive lesson learned for me."
- Horan said USWNT fans are "our inspiration, you are our motivation and seeing you wearing our jerseys and seeing you screaming our names and chanting 'USA,' that's what we play for."
On what she perhaps meant to say upon reflection, Horan took a look at the bigger picture.
- "I want people to talk about how incredible we are on the ball, the possession, the style of play, the technical ability, the tactical changes mid-game, you know, these type of things that maybe I've viewed when I do see some of the best teams in the world. And so maybe that was in my head thinking of our team, and what I want people to say about them on the field."
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New Episode! The Late Sub with Claire Watkins
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Hey you! We have a new show!
Just in time for March Madness, NWSL season, WNBA tip-off, and the USWNT’s road to the Olympics, The Late Sub with Claire Watkins is here to bring you the latest news and freshest takes in the world of women’s sports.
Claire writes the very newsletter you’re reading today, and on The Late Sub, she’s digging in deeper on the biggest stories in women’s sports.
This week, Claire's talking USWNT roster, WNBA free agency, Caitlin Clark and more.
Listen to the latest episode of The Late Sub today! |
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Angel City loses star to ACL injury
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Angel City and Japan star Jun Endo will miss the rest of 2024 due to an ACL injury, the club announced late on Wednesday.
- Endo suffered the injury during the club's training camp in Melbourne, FL.
Context: 23-year-old Endo has established herself as a star for both club and country in recent years.
- She suffured a knee injury while playing for Angel City in 2023 that narrowly allowed her to feature in the World Cup.
- She played in 14 games for Japan last year and notched three goals. Her absence will be felt as Japan strives for qualification for the 2024 Olympics.
Bottom line: ACL injuries now tend to pop up for players dealing with heavy schedules for both club and country. As NWSL preseason progresses, one has to hope that clubs are ready for the workload.
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College hoops: No. 1 South Carolina fended off a strong challenge from Tennessee on Thursday, overcoming Rickea Jackson's 19 points to win 66-55.
Tennis: Former World No. 1 Simona Halep is suing a company linked to her current doping suspension. Halep is seeking more than $10 million in damages from Quantum Nutrition after testing positive at the 2022 U.S. Open for Roxadustat, a drug often used by people with anaemia.
WSL: Chelsea FC is reportedly targeting Lyon head coach Sonia Bonpastor to replace current manager Emma Hayes, according to the Athletic. Nothing has been signed, however.
NWSL: The North Carolina Courage are honoring retired midfielder and three-time NWSL champion Sam Mewis in their newly-formed "Ring of Honor", with a ceremony set for March. 16.
PWHL: Minnesota has retaken a one-point lead in the league standings coming out of the international break, after taking Ottawa down 2-1 on Wednesday.
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BHM spotlight: Lynette Woodard's longtime record
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Lynette Woodard (Tony Duffy /Allsport)
Prior to the NCAA era of women's basketball, Lynette Woodard scored 3,649 points in her career at Kansas, setting a still-unbroken record for college hoops.
During Woodard's career, the NCAA was not the governing body of women's sports. They were instead overseen by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
- In 1981-82, the NCAA began hosting women's championships, leading to the AIAW's dissolution in 1982.
To this day, the NCAA doesn't recognize the records set prior to their takeover of women's basketball, making Woodard the unofficial record holder.
- To add to her legend, Woodard set the mark without a 3-point line.
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"It's cool to be in the same realm of a lot of really really good players ... but we need to play better defense."
Caitlin Clark
during an in-game interview after breaking the NCAA scoring record Thursday. |
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