VESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Long before tipoff, they’re already in line. Fans with painted faces, handmade signs, and No. 22 jerseys fill the arena, from toddlers sitting on shoulders to grandparents clutching programs. Officially, they’ve come to watch No. 4 Iowa. In reality, they’ve come for one reason: Caitlin Clark.
The phenomenon surrounding Clark has become one of the most captivating spectacles in women’s basketball. From warm-up to final buzzer, every eye is fixed on the reigning AP National Player of the Year — a generational scorer who’s closing in on college basketball history.
Clark has amassed nearly 800,000 Instagram followers, landed major endorsement deals with Nike and State Farm, and is on pace to become Division I women’s all-time leading scorer later this season. And yet, through the noise, she says her goal is simple: stay present, stay grounded, and keep loving the game.
With 2,954 career points entering Saturday’s matchup with Bowling Green, Clark is only days away from reaching 3,000. She’s also rapidly climbing the all-time scoring ladder, rising from No. 37 to No. 16 in just eight games. At her blistering 30-points-per-game pace, she could surpass Kelsey Plum’s record of 3,527 by February — a milestone Plum herself is eager to see fall.
But records come with pressure. Plum, who endured similar scrutiny during her own historic run, warns that the spotlight can shift from the team to the total. Clark, though, continues to play with a calm mastery that masks the weight of expectations.
Her numbers are staggering: no Division I player — men’s or women’s — has ever recorded 3,000 points and 1,000 assists. Clark is on track to become the first. Even Pete Maravich’s storied 3,667-point mark sits within reach. And Iowa, last season’s national runner-up, is again a title contender.
Opponents study Clark obsessively. Florida Gulf Coast spent an hour detailing a plan to push her left, hound her everywhere, and force turnovers. They held her to 21 points — a defensive victory — but Iowa still rolled 100–62. That’s the paradox of guarding Clark: stop her, and she might just beat you with her passing.
The star power goes beyond the court. Stephen Curry praises her. Chris Paul and Frances Tiafoe follow her. Sue Bird is a fan. Coaches know they’re game-planning against someone unlike anyone else in the sport.
Inside Iowa’s locker room, they manage what Lisa Bluder calls “the Michael Jordan effect,” ensuring no one becomes a spectator to Clark’s brilliance. Clark’s own energy helps prevent that — cheering, shouting, celebrating every moment, whether she’s scoring or sitting.
Of course, the spotlight brings scrutiny. Last season’s “I don’t see you” gesture sparked debates and drew responses from LSU’s Angel Reese. And Clark’s fiery competitiveness occasionally results in frustration fouls. But each time, she resets, responds, and returns to form.
Love her or not, people watch. The 2023 national title game averaged nearly 10 million viewers, a women’s college basketball record. Recent tournaments featuring Clark have shattered attendance marks, and every arena she enters becomes a sellout.
Even when Iowa leads by 40, every shot matters. Every pass sparks cheers. Every wave at the end sends fans home thrilled.
Clark knows this ride won’t last forever. Basketball isn’t permanent. College isn’t permanent. But the moments — the roar of crowds, the history within reach, the teammates beside her — are ones she plans to cherish as long as she’s center stage.
“Just enjoy every single moment,” Clark said. “Know no moment is ever too big. I think our team really steps up when the lights shine the brightest.”
And as the lights grow brighter than ever, the Caitlin Clark show is only getting started.
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