Iowa Women’s Basketball Stuns No. 1 Rival: Caitlin Clark’s 45-Point Masterclass, Must-See Highlights & How to Watch

Iowa City—Riding a blistering 7-0 start, Iowa women’s basketball has once again become must-see TV and a magnet for record crowds inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes climbed into the nation’s top five this week after back-to-back double-digit wins that showcased why senior guard Caitlin Clark remains the sport’s biggest draw. Clark, already the only Division I player—women’s or men’s—with 3,000 career points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists, is averaging 28.4 points and 8.9 assists while shooting 42 percent from three. With two more 30-point outings last week, she raised her NCAA-record total of 30-plus games to 58 and became the fastest Big Ten player, male or female, to reach 500 made three-pointers. Coach Lisa Bluder’s squad has benefited from more than Clark’s scoring punch. Sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke is converting 67 percent of her attempts in the paint, and grad-transfer guard Molly Davis has provided veteran perimeter defense that held Miami (FL) to 29 percent shooting in Tuesday’s victory. The balanced attack has Iowa averaging 94.1 points—a mark that leads the nation for the second straight season. Next up is Sunday’s in-state clash with Western Illinois, a game sold out since August and expected to push Iowa’s home sellout streak to 23, the longest active run in women’s college basketball. Ticket demand surged again after USA Basketball invited Clark to her first senior national-team minicamp in December, sparking speculation she could make the 2026 FIBA World Cup roster. Key storylines to watch this week 1. Record watch: Clark is 211 points shy of Kelsey Plum’s NCAA women’s scoring record (3,527). At her current pace she would eclipse the mark during the Jan. 5 showdown with Michigan, a game ESPN has already moved to prime time. 2. Defensive leap: Iowa is allowing 62.3 points per game, nearly nine fewer than last season. Bluder credits improved ball pressure from freshman sensation Taylor McCabe and the rim protection of junior Addison O’Grady. 3. Big Ten gauntlet: Conference play opens Dec. 8 at No. 9 Ohio State, pitting the league’s top two offenses. The result could shape Iowa’s path toward a third straight league tournament crown. SEO spotlight: Iowa women’s basketball fans searching for “Hawkeyes schedule,” “Caitlin Clark records,” or “Iowa vs Western Illinois tickets” will find plenty to digest this month as the program chases another Final Four berth and aims to avenge last spring’s heart-breaking championship loss. With national accolades piling up and every game turning into an event, Iowa women’s basketball is proving that lightning can strike twice in Iowa City—and the season’s biggest fireworks may still be ahead.