As soon as Caitlin Clark made NCAA history, everyone knew what was coming. The appreciation post from Magic Johnson. The mega-watt smiling NBA legend congratulated the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball star. She was on the cusp of reaching the Women’s DI basketball scoring record going into the game against the Michigan Wolverines (not Magic’s Michigan Spartans). Predictably, she broke Kelsey Plum’s 3,527 points record pretty early on.
Magic was promptly on X writing, “Congratulations to @CaitlinClark22 for setting a new Women’s Division I Basketball scoring record with 3,528 points!!”
Congratulations to @CaitlinClark22 for setting a new Women’s Division I Basketball scoring record with 3,528 points!!🔥👏🏾🎉
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 16, 2024
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Clark needed only 8 points to surpass Plum’s record that she set between 2013 and 2017. She got that early into the game, sinking her first three shots. Clark also knew she was getting this and appealed to not pause the game. But when the crowd roared, the game was paused to celebrate Clark’s achievement.
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She ended the first quarter with 23 points. The Hawkeyes won 106-89 with Clark finishing with 49 points on her big night. She’s giving Magic Johnson a reason to keep a draft for his next Caitlin Clark appreciation post prepared.
Magic Johnson is watching Caitlin Clark’s career
The Los Angeles Lakers legend with a stake in the Los Angeles Sparks keeps a keen eye on NCAA basketball. Clark impressed Magic in the previous season too. Last year, Clark posted the first 40-point triple-double in the history of the NCAA Tournament. It was so phenomenal, that Magic compared her to his greatest rivals.
“What makes Caitlin’s 40-point triple-double so special is the fact so many player never had one, not me, Michael Jordan, or Larry Bird,” he said during 2023 March Madness. Interestingly, Clark’s rivalry with LSU’s Angel Reese was compared to Magic and Bird’s famous rivalry that began in their college careers.
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Clark impressed many veterans and fans when she focused on maintaining the Hawkeyes’ lead over celebrating her achievement. She recalibrated and strengthened her team’s defense in the second half.
Next on her to-do list is breaking the all-time NCAA record for both men and women. She has currently moved up to third place behind Antoine Davis’ 3.664 and Pete Maravich’s 3,667. Note: Magic Johnson made a total of 1059 points across two NCAA seasons at Michigan State.
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Her next game is on February 23 against Indiana. She might most likely break the all-time record in the next game or two. Hold your breath for Magic Johnson’s hype message when that happens and so much more praise coming Clark’s way.