Caitlin Clark is now the all-time leading scorer in women's college basketball and, barring injury, it's a question of when, not if, she will surpass “Pistol” Pete Maravich in both men's and women's D1 basketball.
However, there is one thing missing from his resume: a championship at Iowa.
Clark and the Hawkeyes reached the national championship game last year, but were defeated by Angel Reese and LSU.
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Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after breaking the all-time NCAA women's scoring record during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 15, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa . (Matthew Holst/Getty Images))
The Hawkeyes phenom's resume speaks for itself: She was the AP Player of the Year last year, won the John Wooden Award and is on track to become a three-time first-team All-American.
But that lack of a championship prevents him from being “great,” says ESPN's Jay Williams.
Williams credited Clark for being “the Stephen Curry of women's college basketball” and for changing “the dynamic of the way the game is played.” Williams also said that she “is probably the most prolific scorer basketball has ever seen.”
But Williams said he was “not willing” to call her “great.”
“I have 'big,' or the levels of immortality or the pantheon, when you win championships. That's who I am,” Williams said on Saturday's “College GameDay.” So, Diana Taurasi, when you win three consecutive championships, two-time National Player of the Year, it has to culminate with a chip; she has to. I mean, Breanna Stewart, if we're talking about GOATs, legends of the game, she's a four-chip winner – four chips, multiple National Players of the Year.
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark, number 22, listens as the crowd applauds after breaking the all-time NCAA women's scoring record during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 15. February 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
“I'm not saying she's not at a very, very, very high level, but to reach the state of immortality, in my opinion, it has to culminate in your team winning a championship.”
CAITLIN CLARK BECOMES THE NCAA'S ALL-TIME FEMALE GOAL SCOREER
Of course, by that logic, that would mean that Hall of Famers like Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly don't qualify as “greats,” but sporting legacies have become steeped in ring culture, and the The number of titles one has won, or not, has become the main argument for greatness.
Clark scored Iowa's first eight points Thursday to break the women's record, previously held by Kelsey Plum. She then scored a career-high 49 points, putting her 99 behind Maravich.
Iowa's matchup with LSU last year was the most-watched women's college basketball game on record, with 9.9 million viewers tuning in, according to ESPN, so Clark's influence is really felt.
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark, number 22, celebrates with her teammates during a presentation after breaking the all-time NCAA women's scoring record during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 15, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. . (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
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Clark will return to the court Thursday against Indiana.
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