Breaking the NCAA scoring record, Caitlin Clark is a “tsunami of effect and influence.”

Caitlin Clark of Iowa has broken the all-time women’s NCAA scoring record with 3,527 points against the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday.

The Hawkeyes guard broke Kelsey Plum’s previous mark in 13 fewer career games despite attempting fewer shots. Her competitive passion, theatrics, and long 3-point shot have broken TV viewership records and sold out arenas where tickets can fetch hundreds of dollars.

Her achievement represents a turning point for the game and the realization of Title IX’s and Clark’s promises. Her rise represents a wave of growth in women’s basketball, including popularity, caliber of play, funding, and media attention.

Ahead of the class

The college senior has outpaced the modern elite hooper since grade school.

“I never heard of her until after I was hired,” says Kristin Meyer, who was Clark’s head coach at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Meyer first saw Clark, who is now 22, play as an eighth grader. “Right away … you just saw that she saw the game at a different level,” Meyer says. “She was taking shots that high school and college women wouldn’t take.”

The difficulty rested in finding new ways to challenge Clark.

Meyer explains, “We had to bring in different high school players who could guard her better and who were a little bit larger and stronger.” “I recall how thrilled she was to confront the boys and go up against them. She would make a basket, make small talk, or they would pause and make small talk, all in good humor.”

Meyer predicted she would score 20 to 25 points a game in her first season at Iowa when Clark graduated from high school.

Meyer seemed a little strange. During her first season, Clark scored 26.6 points per game on average and shot slightly over 40% from three-point range. Clark’s sophomore season the following year saw a slight increase in her average to 27 points per game. Her junior year statistics didn’t change much, which is evidence that she is a human, although she shot 39% from 3-point range.