Iowa’s Caitlin Clark ties Elena Delle Donne for points record

Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark reached the 2,000-point mark Wednesday, just 75 games into her career.

She tied Elena Delle Donne as the fastest NCAA Division I women’s basketball player to accumulate that many points. She and Delle Donne are the fastest among women’s and men’s players since at least the 1999-00, per ESPN.

The Hawkeyes’ initial post about the milestone led to some confusion, as they identified Clark as “the fastest” player to reach 2,000 points. But they later posted an addendum recognizing Delle Donne, who reached the mark at Delaware.

Clark and Delle Donne are dominant but different players — the former a 6-foot point guard, the latter a 6-foot-5 wing. Still, their journeys to 2,000 points look fairly similar.

• Caitlin Clark, Iowa
  • 2020-21: 799 points / 564 FGA / 30 games
  • 2021-22: 863 points / 633 FGA / 32 games
  • 2022-23: 351 points / 245 FGA / 13 games
  • Totals: 2,013 points / 1,441 FGA / 75 games
• Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
  • 2009-10: 774 points / 539 FGA / 29 games
  • 2010-11: 557 points / 422 FGA / 22 games
  • 2011-12: 690 points / 456 FGA / 24 games
  • Totals: 2,021 points / 1,417 FGA / 75 games

And while Clark was less efficient than Delle Donne in reaching 2,000 points, the Hawkeyes junior has a good chance to surpass the Blue Hens legend.

Delle Donne played just 39 more games after hitting the milestone, and she finished her career with 3,039 points. Iowa will play at least 16 more games this season, and then likely at least 30 again next season. So as long as Clark can remain healthy, she should have more opportunities to rack up points.

Kelsey Plum holds the all-time NCAA record, as she scored 3,527 points for the Washington Huskies from 2013-17.

Clark scored her 2,000th point in a 92-54 win against Dartmouth, the latest accomplishment in an already historic season.

She set the Big Ten record for most career triple-doubles with her seventh earlier this month. She also broke Sabrina Ionescu’s record for the most career games with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, reaching 35 such games in November.