Reported by Eric Levenson, Ben Morse, and Patrick Sung for CNN.

On Sunday, during a victory against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes player Caitlin Clark became the top scorer in NCAA Division-I basketball history, surpassing the record set by Hall of Famer “Pistol” Pete Maravich.

At the beginning of the game, Clark had to score 18 points in order to surpass Maravich’s all-time record of 3,667 points. She achieved this by making two free throws during the last second of the first half. In a brief interview during halftime, she stated that breaking the record was not her focus during the game.

She stated that it wasn’t exactly true, but once the announcement was made and everyone started yelling, she realized it was true.

Clark had a successful performance in the game, scoring 35 points, making 9 assists, and grabbing 6 rebounds for No. 6 ranked Iowa, resulting in a 93-83 victory over No. 2 ranked Ohio State. This brings her total career points to 3,685.

She expressed that after the game, she was still trying to process everything that had happened.

“I am immensely grateful for the individuals who will continue to stand by us and those who have stood by us throughout my four years,” she expressed. “It may not fully sink in until later, but I am going to savor this moment with my loved ones and my teammates. I am truly appreciative to be in this position.”

Renowned for her precision in shooting from long range and clever strategies in playmaking, the 22-year-old final year student has achieved great fame in college sports and recently surpassed the record for all-time scoring in women’s NCAA basketball. Her performance in the first half against Ohio State on Sunday showcased her talents, taking 15 shots with 10 from far out and also contributing six assists as opponents scrambled to defend against her.

Clark exploded onto the public consciousness last year with her unbelievable play throughout March Madness as she led Iowa to the national championship game, the first title game appearance in school history. There, Iowa fell to the LSU Tigers in a game marked by a notable spat between Clark and LSU forward Angel Reese.

Ever since then, Clark has risen to become the strongest presence in the realm of college basketball. Simultaneously, her reputation off the court knows no limits.

According to the website, Fanatics, the top-selling college athlete edition of apparel since it started selling collegiate athletic gear in 2022 is Clark’s University of Iowa jerseys and shirts. Clark has also signed contracts with various brands such as Gatorade, Nike, and State Farm.

On Sunday, Clark’s exceptional performance broke a record and received recognition from LeBron James, who holds the NBA’s highest scoring record. According to CNN Sports Analyst Christine Brennan, Clark’s accomplishment marks a significant moment in women’s sports history and has shifted perceptions of basketball.

She stated that Caitlin’s perspective has caused many of us to view this traditional American sport in a new light.

In 1970, a basketball scoring record was established for the NCAA Division-I by a player known as “Pistol Pete” Maravich. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame and was known for his unique style of play, accurate shooting from the perimeter, and his distinctive hairstyle. During his time at LSU, Maravich had an average of over 44 points per game and played for three seasons without the use of a three-point line, shot clock, or the ability for freshmen to participate. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 40.

Last week, Jaeson Maravich, the son of the late basketball legend Pete Maravich, stated to Yahoo Sports that comparing records between his father and current player Elena Delle Donne is not a fair comparison. However, he also expressed that his father would have greatly admired Delle Donne’s talent.

Clark recently achieved a new milestone in NCAA women’s basketball by surpassing Kelsey Plum from the University of Washington to become the all-time leading scorer. She also holds the record for the most points scored in major women’s college basketball history, surpassing Lynette Woodard, who played for Kansas before the NCAA existed.

Supernova talent

Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Clark’s decision to attend her home state university in 2020 has been highly successful for both herself and the overall development of women’s basketball at Iowa.

Clark quickly took control of the Iowa offense and excelled right from the start, averaging nearly 27 points in her first year. By her third season, the team had made it to the NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, thanks in part to Clark’s impressive scoring ability and her contributions of over 7 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game.

Clark’s yearly improvement has been one of the most notable aspects of her career. She is currently averaging 32 points per game this season, which is a significant increase from her previous performances. Additionally, she boasts a strong shooting percentage of 46.9%, with almost 40% of those shots coming from three-point range.

As she progressed further, there has been a rise in the focus on her game.

In October 2023, she shared with TNT Sports that she began playing in a year when Covid prevented crowds and only her family and cardboard cutouts were present. Now, in her final year, she is able to play in front of a crowd of 15,000 spectators, which she considers to be a remarkable and memorable experience.

She stated that this has not been previously accomplished in women’s basketball.

Similar to how Steph Curry dominates in the NBA and Sabrina Ionescu in the WNBA, Clark’s impressive skill in sinking long-range three-point shots has made her both a highly talented player and a favorite among social media followers.

Last week, Clark announced her decision to join the WNBA Draft after this season, choosing not to use her final year of eligibility. She is expected to sign with the Indiana Fever, who secured the top pick in the draft lottery.

Corrected: The previous version of this article had an incorrect statement about the scoring record. It has now been clarified that Caitlin Clark holds the all-time scoring record in NCAA Division I basketball, including both men’s and women’s leagues.

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