Iowa guard Caitlin Clark’s 41-point outing in Friday’s Final Four win over South Carolina was an all-time performance. The Hawkeyes star was already a household name as a two-time unanimous First-Team All-American and the 2023 National Player of the Year. On Friday, she took another step towards cementing her legacy, and is one win away from the program’s first national championship.
Clark scored well more than half of Iowa’s points in its 77–73 win over the previously undefeated, No. 1 Gamecocks. It was her second straight women’s NCAA tournament game with 41 points, after her incredible Elite Eight triple-double against Louisville.
She notched the sixth-ever 1,000 point season in Division I history during the game. Clark is up to 161 points and 52 assists during this tournament run. Per ESPN Stats & Info, going back to 2000, all six instances of a player totalling at least 150 points and 50 assists in any five-game span belong to Clark.
Baccellieri: With Caitlin Clark, Iowa Knew It Could Slay the Beast
For some, Friday’s game was their introduction to her game, and she did not disappoint. Others were well-aware of what she could do, and she lived up to those lofty expectations.
SOUTH CAROLINA: we haven’t lost a basketball game in over a year
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) April 1, 2023
CAITLIN CLARK: pic.twitter.com/G2tENF3St2
Let Caitlin Clark be the Iowa football offensive coordinator. I repeat: Let Caitlin Clark be the Iowa football offensive coordinator.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 1, 2023
Still thinking about how all season people talked about how good Caitlin Clark is, how many big shots she hits, etc etc...and when she gets to the two biggest games of the season (so far), she not only delivers, but scores 40 points per game. In the Elite Eight and Final Four.
— Caroline Darney (@cwdarney) April 1, 2023
Caitlin Clark is Larry Bird, point blank. Carrying her team to the title game.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) April 1, 2023
She scored or assisted on every single point in the 4th quarter… caitlin clark is HER
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) April 1, 2023
Coming into this game, I heard the hype about Caitlin Clark and thought she can’t be THAT good! Boy oh boy…..she’s all dawg!!
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) April 1, 2023
