CaitlinClark just finished an incredible 2022-23 campaign as a junior with the Iowa Hawkeyes – leading her team to a spot in the National Championship before losing to LSU. The year started in mid-October, right around the same time she signed a lucrative NIL deal to become one of the newest Nike athletes.
Clark played in 38 games for the Hawkeyes in 2022-23 and set career-high averages in points, assists, and steals. She ended the season with 27.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 34.4 minutes per game. Her team went 26-6 during the regular season and 5-1 in March Madness.
Some of the impressive accolades she received for her efforts this season include the AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA National Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, unanimous First-Team All-American, Nancy Lieberman Award, and Dawn Staley Award.
A Look Back At Every 30-Point Game By Caitlin Clark in 2022-23
via Instagram (@caitlinclark22)
One of the most impressive things about the season Caitlin Clark had was her ability to score in bunches. She scored at least 30 points on 14 occasions this season – four of which came in the women’s NCAA tournament and four of which were more than 40 points. She only scored under 20 points three times.
Other stats that explain just how good she was this past season were her five triple-doubles (including the first ever 40-point triple double in Division I NCAA Tournament history), her two games with eight three pointers made (both came in the NCAA tournament), and her 31.8 points per game in the tournament.
She ended the season as the No. 2 scorer among Division I NCAA women’s basketball players with 27.8 points per game – behind MaddySiegrist, who averaged 29.2 points per game. To commemorate her incredible season, let’s take a look back at each of Clark’s 30-point games during the 2022-23 campaign.
On November 20, 2022, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Belmont Bruins 73-62 to improve to 4-1 in the regular season. Clark finished the game with 33 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 31 minutes of play. She was the only player on her team to score in double digits.
Clark shot 10 of 18 (56%) from the field, 7 of 11 (64%) from two-point range, 3 of 7 (43%) from beyond the three-point line, and 10 of 11 (91%) from the charity stripe in the win. She not only outscored the rest of her starting five, but scored more than half of the entire Belmont squad. She was lighting it up.
13. 45 Points vs. NC State (Dec. 1, 2022)
No. 12 NC State defeated No. 10 Iowa, 94-81, in a women’s basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday. Iowa guard Caitlin Clark led the Hawkeyes in points with 45, her highest-scoring game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 📸: @_graceephotoshttps://t.co/m8PE4oz0D2pic.twitter.com/3ZKAicqn4y
On December 1, 2022, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes lost to the NC State Wolfpack 81-94 to bring their record to 5-3 in the regular season. Despite the loss, Clark lit the Wolfpack up for a season-high 45 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in 39 minutes of play – outscoring the rest of her teammates.
Clark did everything she could, but it wasn’t enough to walk away with a win. She shot 16 of 28 (57%) from the field, 11 of 15 (73%) from two-point range, 5 of 13 (39%) from beyond the three-point line, and a perfect 8 of 8 (100%) from the charity stripe. She was two points away from setting a career-high.
On December 10, 2022, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers in an 87-64 blowout to improve their record to 8-3 in the regular season. Clark finished the game with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals in 35 minutes of play – one assist away from a triple-double.
Clark didn’t shoot as well as she would’ve liked, but the end result was all that mattered. She shot 11 of 26 (42%) from the floor, 7 of 17 (41%) from two-point range, 4 of 9 (44%) from beyond the three-point line, and 6 of 8 (75%) from the charity stripe. Her teammate, MonikaCzinano, added 22 points.
11. 32 Points vs. Illinois (Jan. 1, 2023)
On January 1, 2023 (New Year’s Day), Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes lost to the Illinois Fighting Illini in a tight 86-90 thriller at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Clark finished the game with 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in 37 minutes of action, but the Fighting Illini were too much to handle.
Clark shot 11 of 27 (41%) from the floor, 4 of 13 (31%) from two-point range, 7 of 14 (50%) from beyond the three-point line, and a perfect 3 of 3 (100%) from the charity stripe. She received a lot of help with Monika Czinano adding 24 points and McKennaWarnock chipping in 17 points, but it wasn’t enough.
On January 28, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a tight 80-76 thriller at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa – improving their record to 17-4 on the regular season. Clark finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in 37 minutes played.
She didn’t shoot well at all, but she got the win and that’s what counts. She shot 9 of 26 (35%) from the floor, 4 of 14 (29%) from two-point range, 5 of 12 (42%) from beyond the three-point line, and 10 of 12 (83%) from the charity stripe. She was just one assist away from a triple double – close, but no cigar.
9. 42 Points vs. Maryland (February 2, 2023)
With 42 points against No. 8 Maryland, Caitlin Clark now has 4️⃣ career 40-point games against AP-ranked opponents.
That ties Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley for the most by ANY player over the last 20 seasons 😤 pic.twitter.com/9cec9bUnLs
On February 2, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Maryland Terrapins 96-82 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa – improving their record to 18-4 in the regular season. Clark finished the game with 42 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 39 minutes played.
Clark shot light’s out in this game – shooting 13 of 19 (68%) from the floor, 7 of 8 (88%) from two-point range, 6 of 11 (55%) from beyond the three-point line, and 10 of 11 (91%) from the charity stripe. It was her second consecutive game with at least 30 points and second 40-point game of the regular season.
8. 35 Points vs. Indiana (Feb. 9, 2023)
In the top 5 match-up from Assembly Hall, #2 Indiana turns back #5 Iowa 87-78. Indiana announces largest crowd in its program history, 13,046.
Caitlin Clark worked hard for 35 points, 10 assists.
Grace Berger scores 26, 9 rebounds for Indiana. Hoosiers now 23-1.
On February 9, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes lost to the Indiana Hoosiers 78-87 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana – bringing their regular season record to 19-5 (the Hoosiers improved to 21-1). Clark had 35 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals in 39 minutes played.
Clark didn’t shoot well in the loss, ending the game 12 of 28 (43%) from the floor, 9 of 17 (53%) from two-point range, 3 of 11 (27%) from beyond the three-point line, and 8 of 11 (73%) from the charity stripe. It was the third time she amassed 30 points in the past four games, but she also had eight turnovers.
On February 18, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers in an 80-60 blowout at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska – bringing their regular season record to 22-5. Clark finished the game with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal in 33 minutes played.
She ended up shooting 10 of 21 (48%) from the floor, 6 of 11 (55%) from two-point range, 4 of 10 (40%) from beyond the three-point line, and 6 of 7 (86%) from the charity stripe. It was the second time she scored at least 30 points against Nebraska – she scored 33 points against them less than a month prior.
On February 26, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Indiana Hoosiers in an 86-85 absolute thriller at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa – improving their record to 26-3 in the regular season finale. Clark finished with 34 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal in 38 minutes.
She shot 12 of 22 (55%) from the floor, 8 of 10 (80%) from two-point range, 4 of 12 (33%) from beyond the three-point line, and 6 of 8 (75%) from the charity stripe. It was her second 30-point outing against Indiana (but this time her Hawkeyes won) and second 30-point outing over the past three games.
5. 30 Points vs. Ohio State (March 5, 2023)
Caitlin Clark had a triple-double tonight, leading the Hawkeyes over Ohio State to win the Big 10 Championship.
🏀30 points 🏀17 assists 🏀10 rebounds
Clark becomes the first player in Women's Division I history to record three career 30-point triple-doubles. pic.twitter.com/2oRE71M7WF
On March 5, 2023, Catilin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes blew out the Ohio State Buckeyes 105-72 in the Big Ten Conference Championship game – the school’s fifth Big Ten Conference title and second in as many years. Clark finished the game with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists, and 1 steal in 35 minutes.
Clark shot 9 of 17 (53%) from the floor, 4 of 6 (67%) from two-point range, 5 of 11 (46%) from beyond the three-point line, and 7 of 8 (88%) from the charity stripe. It was her 10th 30-point outing of the season, fourth triple-double of the season, and her 17 assists is the second-highest mark of her college career.
On March 24, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 87-77 in the NCAA Women’s Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington – her team advanced to the Elite Eight with the win. She scored 31 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals in 36 minutes played.
Clark shot 11 of 22 (50%) from the field, 7 of 13 (54%) from two-point range, 4 of 9 (44%) from beyond the three-point line, and 5 of 6 (83%) from the charity stripe. Her teammates provided some support with Monika Czinano scoring 15 points, KateMartin scoring 16 points, and McKenna Warnock adding 12 points.
3. 41 Points vs. Louisville (March 26, 2023)
Caitlyn Clark is the first woman in NCAA Tournament History to record a 40 point Triple-Double‼️😳
41 Points 10 Rebounds 12 Assists
Iowa defeated Louisville 97-83 to advance to the Final Four.
— Fantom Sports Industries (@Fantom_sports) March 27, 2023
On March 26, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Louisville Cardinals 97-83 in the NCAA Women’s Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington – her team advanced to the Final Four with the win. She had 41 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals in 39 minutes played.
Clark shot 11 of 19 (58%) from the floor, 3 of 5 (60%) from two-point range, 8 of 14 (57%) from beyond the three-point line, and 11 of 13 (85%) from the charity stripe. It was her second-straight game with at least 30 points and was the first ever 40-point triple-double in Division I NCAA Tournament history.
On March 31, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 77-73 in the NCAA Women’s Tournament in Dallas, Texas – her team advanced to the NCAA Women’s National Championship Game with the win. Clark had 41 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal in 39 minutes.
Clark shot a horrendous 15 of 31 (48%) from the floor, 10 of 14 (71%) from two-point range, a horrendous 5 of 17 (29%) from beyond the three-point line, and a perfect 6 of 6 (100%) from the charity stripe. It was her third-straight game with at least 30 points and second consecutive game with at least 40 points.
On April 2, 2023, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes were defeated by the LSU Tigers 85-102 in the 2023 Women’s National Championship game in Dallas, Texas – officially bringing the 2022-23 season to an end. Clark finished the game with 30 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists in 35 minutes played.
Clark didn’t shoot well at all – finishing the game 9 of 22 (41%) from the field, 1 of 3 (33%) from two-point range, 8 of 19 (42%) from beyond the three-point line, and 4 of 5 (80%) from the charity stripe. It was her fourth-straight 30-point outing and she set a Women’s National Championship game record with eight three pointers made.
What’s Next for Caitlin Clark?
Caitlin Clark just completed her junior season with the Iowa Hawkeyes and will play one more season with the team before entering the WNBA Draft in 2024. That means she’ll have another opportunity to not only lead her team to the National Championship game, but this time hoist the trophy and win the title.
At this point in her collegiate career, she has averaged 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 34.7 minutes per game (100 games). She has scored at least 30 points on 37 occasions and at least 40 points on eight occasions – including a career-high 46 points during the 2021-22 season.
In addition to her shot at a title, Caitlin Clark will have an opportunity to defend the many trophies she won this past season and will likely break plenty of records in the process. We can look forward to more 30-point and 40-point performances, triple doubles, and mind-blowing statistics when the 2023-24 season begins!
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