I want to congratulate Caitlin Clark on her sensational career and becoming the new Division I NCAA scoring leader.
In 1982, when the NCAA began offering women’s championships, I was the first female athlete to earn the NCAA’s Top V Award. At that time, the NCAA recognized my career scoring record of 3,649 points, all achieved in my four seasons at the University of Kansas.
I am proud of my record that has stood for 43 years. I played from 1977 until 1981, when women’s basketball was governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Back then, collegiate women’s players used a larger basketball, and we did not have a 3-point line. In honoring Caitlin’s accomplishments, I hope that we can also shine a light on the pioneers who paved the way before her. Women’s basketball has a glorious history that predates the NCAA’s involvement. I applaud Caitlin for everything she has done and look forward to watching her score many more points for years to come.