What Kelsey Plum said about Caitlin Clark’s pursuit of her NCAA scoring record

Kelsey Plum’s message is succinct as Caitlin Clark pushes close to her NCAA Division-I women’s basketball scoring record.

Give her credit, a lot of credit.

Also, give her some space. And some grace.

“You have to remember that she’s not just a basketball player, she’s a young woman, and there’s a lot to handle there,” Plum said Friday as she spoke on a Zoom call with media members -- including The Gazette -- from the USA Basketball women’s team camp in New York.

A senior guard for second-ranked Iowa (21-2 overall, 10-1 Big Ten), Clark has accumulated 3,462 points in her career. She needs 65 more to reach Plum’s record of 3,527.

At her season pace of 32.4 points per game, Clark will break the record either Sunday at Nebraska (noon, FS1) or Feb. 15 at home against Michigan (7 p.m., Peacock).

Iowa hosts Penn State on Thursday (8 p.m., BTN).

“I'm actually very grateful to pass that baton. I'm very happy for her,” Plum said.

A two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces, Plum set the NCAA record as a senior at the University of Washington in 2017, when she surpassed Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles with a 57-point explosion at Seattle in a win over Utah.

Plum reached her total in 139 games, averaging 25.4 points per game. Clark has played 123 games at Iowa, with a career scoring rate of 28.1 ppg.

Plum recalled her own record chase as stressful.

“I remember, to be honest, it was very much a low point in my life,” Plum said. “It felt like a lot of pressure, and my identity was kind of caught up in that record.

“I hope everyone takes time to understand that (Clark) is not just a basketball player but a young woman that has feelings and emotions. She carries it with grace, but there's a lot to handle there.

“Show her love outside of (the court). I’m excited for her.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com