IOWA CITY — Just over two minutes into the game, Caitlin Clark rose to shoot from the left wing well behind the three-point line. Itâs a scene that has played out countless times over the past four seasons in Iowa City and all throughout the country.
This shot was different from the rest. This shot would live on forever. In highlight reels. In record books. And in the memories of the 15,000+ people in attendance.
Clarkâs three moved her past Kelsey Plum as NCAA womenâs basketballâs all-time leading scorer. But she wasn’t done breaking records. Clark’s big night continued and she ended up scoring 49 points to break Megan Gustafson’s program record for most points in a game. Clark also broke Hannah Stuelke’s mark for most points scored in a game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena set just one week ago. For good measure, Clark added 13 assists and five rebounds.
Clark’s big performance propelled Iowa to a 106-89 victory over Michigan on a night Iowa fans will remember forever.
“You all knew I was going to shoot a logo three for the record,” Clark said with a smile after the game.
Clark came into the game needing seven points to tie Plumâs record and eight points to surpass it. If she could score five early points, she’d have an opportunity to break Plum’s mark with one of her signature shots. Sometimes fate plays out exactly like you hope.
Clark made her first shot just nine seconds into the game on a layup. She followed that with a three 30 seconds later.
Because no one is perfect, Clark was quiet on Iowaâs next two possessions: “I thought about doing it a couple possessions earlier, but I was tired. I needed to catch my breath a bit,” said Clark.
Clark had caught her breath by the time Gabbie Marshall tracked down a rebound just over two minutes into the game. Marshall found Clark in the perfect position to push in transition. From there, history awaited:
But Clark wasnât done. Far from it. After a brief pause to recognize Clarkâs achievement, the game got going again and so did Clark.
“During warmups my shot felt pretty good,” Clark said. “Usually as a shooter you know. The ball just comes off your hand some nights better than others.”
Clark hit seven other shotsâincluding four more three-pointers â in a remarkable first quarter that saw her score 23 points and dish four assists.
Clark wasn’t done after the first quarter, either. Just last week, she saw Hannah Stuelke set a Carver record for points in a game. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer couldn’t let that stand.
“She asked why I had to do that,” Clark said of Stuelke’s reaction to her record being broken. Then Stuelke turned it into a joke, as Clark noted that Stuelke said “she said she passed the torch to me.”
Clark’s late three did more than surpass Stuelke. It also lifted her above Megan Gustafson’s prior program record of 48 points in a game.
Clark has occasionally been chided for the volume of shots that she takes, but tonight no one could question her. Clark shot 16-of-31 from the floor and went 9-of-18 from 3-point range. She also added 13 assists because breaking three different scoring records in the same game just wasn’t enough.
“I don’t know if you could script it any better.” Clark said.
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Clark’s record and her masterful performance will occupy every headline, but this was also a big game for Iowa as a team. The Hawks sit one game behind Ohio State in the loss column in the Big Ten standings. The only team to defeat the Buckeyes in Big Ten play so far this season is Michigan. If Iowa didnât play at its best, this was absolutely a game that could have ended in an upset. One more loss would have almost certainly ended Iowaâs Big Ten championship aspirations.
Offensively, at least, the Hawkeyes were at their best in this game. Kate Martin was consistent as ever, scoring 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a red hot 4-of-5 effort from 3-point range. Stuelke scored 13 points on just six shots. Gabbie Marshall even broke out of her recent shooting slump, hitting a couple big threes.
As a team, Iowa shot 53% from the floor and a sizzling 51% from 3-point range, making a stunning 18 triples on the night. Iowa also had 25 assists on 34 made field goals, turned 14 Michigan turnovers into 26 points, and out-scored the Wolverines 25-7 in fast break points. This game was an example of the Iowa offense at its best.
READ MORE: Social Media Reacts to Caitlin Clark Breaking the NCAA WBB Scoring Record
After the game, Coach Lisa Bluder took time to praise how Michigan handled the moment.
“They gave Caitlin a gift after the game and every one of (their) players wrote her a note,” Bluder said in her press conference. “I am so glad that we have people in the Big Ten that understand the importance of this and the importance for women’s basketball… that was a really classy way for them to handle this. I appreciate Kim and what she did.”
“There was like no one here,” Clark said of her first college game in Carver Hawkeye Arena against Northern Iowa. That’s not technically true, of course. The official attendance was 365. But compared to the capacity crowd of tonight, it might as well have been no one.
We will never know how many people might’ve attended Clark’s debut had it not been for the COVID restrictions in place at the time. We can say with certainty, though, that it wouldn’t have been close to a sellout.
Iowaâs 2019 season opener against Florida Atlantic had an official attendance of 3,334. For the 2021 season opener against New Hampshire in Clarkâs sophomore season, the attendance was 6,789.
Tonight, every seat in Carver was taken, and ticket prices on the secondary market reached insane levels:
In less than four years, #22 has transformed womenâs basketball. Tonightâs game was more than a record or a moment. It was a celebration of four years that have helped change womenâs basketball forever.
“There’s no way I could imagine this,” Bluder said when asked what her childhood self would say of tonight. “There’s just no way you can even fathom this as a little kid growing up pre-Title IX.”
Given Clark’s talent and charisma, it’s fair to say that she isn’t done growing the game just yet, either.
Two people are dead after a Dubuque bar fight escalated, with one man shooting another and then being killed by police.
An officer with the Dubuque Police Department was outside the Odd Fellows bar just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, when he witnessed a physical altercation, according to a news release from the Dubuque Police Department.
As the officer exited the patrol vehicle, an adult man allegedly used a handgun to shoot one of the people involved in the fight. The officer fired at the offender, who then ran into the bar.
The victim who was shot first was provided medical treatment by officers at the scene and then transported to MercyOne Hospital in Dubuque.
The offender was treated by police officers inside the bar and then transported to UnityPoint Finley Hospital.
Both were later pronounced dead.
The names of those involved are not being released at this time pending notification of family members.
The incident is being investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The officer involved was not injured and has been placed on critical incident leave in accordance with the department’s policies.
Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at nelhajj@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.
With the season coming out of the holiday break, now is the perfect time to take a look at the top Iowa high school girls basketball players by grade.
These are just some of the top players in Iowa and not a complete list of all of them. Statistics are based on those uploaded to the Bound website by January 4, 2026.
Here are the top junior girls basketball players in Iowa high school basketball:
A high-level producer, Maggie McChesney heads into 2026 averaging 23.6 points, nine rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.6 assists and over two blocks per game.
The next standout from North Union, Ainsley Ulrich is posting nearly 23 points with six rebounds, and over three steals a night.
Flirting with averaging a double-double is Izzy Gilbertson, as the junior stands at 21.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, four blocks, 3.6 steals and three assists.
Along with posting 20 points and grabbing six rebounds, Cora Sauer also adds four steals and three assists.
A big sophomore season has carried right over for Melina Snoozy, as she leads the Crusaders with 20 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 steals a night, along with averaging a block per game.
Up north is Riley Meyer, a 20-point scorer per game who adds six rebounds and two steals.
Sitting right under 20 points a night is Addy Wolfswinkel, as she is also averaging five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
A standout on both ends, Maryn Franken posts nearly 20 points and over eight rebounds per game with three steals and 1.4 blocks.
Following in the footsteps of Audi Crooks, Graclyn Eastman has been nearly unstoppable for the Golden Bears, scoring 19 points per game with nine rebounds, 3.5 steals, 2.6 blocks and two assists.
Another Maroon standout named Muller, Katie is scoring over 18 points per game with six rebounds, 3.5 assists and over a block and steal.
One of the top players in the North Central Conference, Hayden McLaughlin has taken over as the No. 1 option for the Bulldogs, scoring 17 points per game with nearly six rebounds and two steals.
The Hawks rely on KeaOnna Worley to do a lot, and she delivers nightly, scoring 16.5 points with nearly five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
The balanced Comets are led by Campbell Schulz, as the junior posts 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, four assists, three steals and nearly three blocks.
Forming a powerful 1-2 punch with Addy Wolfswinkel is Deidra Doeden, who averages 18 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.
Down low for North Mahaska is Natallya Linder, a nightly double-double at 15.7 points and 13 rebounds to go along with 2.6 steals, 2.3 assists and a block.
The last name has long been a staple for Pella Christian, and Rachel is carrying it on now, averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block per game.
The forward is a threat all over the court for the Falcons, posting 18 points, 11.6 rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block.
Triple-doubles are in the future for Aniya Hardee, as she is averaging nine points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and nearly five steals per game.
Penn State landed Iowa State’s pair of quarterbacks earlier Sunday, including starter Rocco Becht, in a splash move. Now, the Cyclones’ leading receiver is coming with them.
Wide receiver Brett Eskildsen committed to Penn State via the transfer portal, becoming the seventh Cyclone to join the Nittany Lions this weekend. He announced the move on social media.
Eskildsen recorded 30 receptions, 526 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2025. He also appeared in all 13 games as a freshman but made just two catches for 17 yards.
The 6-1, 200-pound wideout is from Frisco, Texas, and is a three-star in the 247Sports transfer rankings (No. 118 overall, No. 30 WR). He was a three-star out of high school as well, where he had more than 1,5000 career receiving yards.
Becht’s top man from 2026 is now in place. He’ll also be able to throw to standout Penn State freshman Koby Howard and quick youngster Tyseer Denmark, who have confirmed their returns thus far.
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