[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CAITLIN CLARK

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize University of 
Iowa's Caitlin Clark, a true generational talent, for her historic 
achievements in women's collegiate basketball. Clark is a West Des 
Moines native.
  In the Hawkeyes' February 15, 2024, matchup against the Michigan 
Wolverines, Clark became the alltime leading scorer in NCAA women's 
basketball history. She clinched the record in the opening 2 minutes 
with three baskets, including a logo 3-point shot. She put up 49 total 
points that game in the Carver Hawkeye Arena, a new school and personal 
best.
  Less than 3 weeks later, during her last regular season game with the 
Hawkeyes, Clark surpassed ``Pistol'' Pete Maravich's 1970 record for 
highest number of points scored in the NCAA. To date, Clark has racked 
up 3,685 career points, more than any Division I player in history, 
men's or women's.
  Clark's success is undoubtedly the dividend of her hard work, 
discipline, and dedication. It seems to have earned her a suffix: ``the 
first.''
  Clark, the first player to record a 40-point triple-double in men's 
or women's NCAA tournament history.
  Clark, the first player to drop consecutive 40-point games in the 
women's NCAA tournament.
  Clark, the first Division I player to top 3,000 points, 1,000 
assists, and 800 rebounds.
  Clark, the first Big Ten player to win every major national player of 
the year award: AP Player of the Year, the Honda Sports Award, the John 
R. Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA National 
Player of the Year, and the Wade Trophy.
  She is a team player, too. In the 2022-23 season, Clark was 
responsible for 48 percent of the team's assists--another first. No 
other Division I player, male or female, had ever accounted for more 
than 42 percent of their team's assists.
  Clark is captivating the world with her talent, competitiveness, team 
spirit, sportsmanship, leadership, work ethic, and evident love for the 
game of basketball. Already, she has become one of history's most 
influential women in sports.
  Public engagement in women's college basketball has never before 
reached today's heights. During the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the 
championship boasted a sellout crowd of 19,482 ticket holders and 9.9 
million at-home viewers. The Hawkeyes' Final Four faceoff garnered 5.5 
million viewers, making it the most-watched Women's NCAA Tournament 
semifinals game on the books. Weeks ahead of the Hawkeyes' 2023-24 
season opener, the team broke the alltime attendance record for a 
single women's basketball game when 55,646 spectators packed Kinnick 
Stadium for a charity-benefit exhibition. The 2024 Big Ten Women's 
Basketball Tournament is sold out for the first time ever.
  The ``Caitlin Clark Effect'' is not just changing women's college 
basketball; it is inspiring athletes of all ages, across all sports. As 
Clark continues to rise through the ranks of the ``all-time greats,'' I 
congratulate her on behalf of the Hawkeye State. Keep making us proud. 
Go Hawks.

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