Every great athlete has defining moments from their formative years, performances that showcase their talent and capture the attention of the entire nation. For Caitlin Clark, one such moment occurred during her junior year in college, when she achieved something historic: registering the first 40-point triple-double in an NCAA Tournament game since assists became an official stat in 1984.
Reflecting on that accomplishment, Clark revealed that her mindset was never about personal glory; instead, her sole focus was ensuring the team’s path to the Final Four after a couple of years of heartbreak.
Caitlin Clark on her iconic triple-double
This historic feat came in the quarterfinal clash against Louisville, where Clark wrote her name all over the contest. First, she made consecutive layups, followed by a catch-and-shoot three-pointer, and saw the Iowa Hawkeyes cut their deficit to one point in the first half. Ultimately, she finished the first quarter with 22 points and eight assists.
Moreover, just when fans thought Clark would’ve given her all, she became even more dominant in the second half. Eventually, by the fourth quarter, the biggest subplot of the game was whether she could grab her 10th rebound and record her sixth triple-double of that campaign. That milestone was achieved with less than a minute remaining, which brought the entire crowd to their feet as Clark finished the game with 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, propelling Iowa to a comfortable 97-83 victory…