Inbasketball, a triple-double is defined as a performance in which one player accumulates a double-digit total in three of five positive statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots—in a game. The most common way for a player to achieve a triple-double is with points, rebounds, and assists, though on occasion players may record 10 or more steals or blocked shots in a game.[1] Each player on this list has accomplished this feat at least five times in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's or women's game.
Individual scoring totals have been recognized as official NCAA statistics throughout what it calls the "modern era" of men's basketball, which it considers to have started with the 1937–38 season, the first without the center jump after each made basket. Individual rebounding was added in the 1950–51 season. Similarly, the NCAA has recognized the same statistics in women's basketball since it began sponsoring competition in that sport in the 1981–82 season. However, official recognition of the other possible components of the triple-double did not come until later. In men's basketball, the NCAA first kept individual assist totals in the 1950–51 season, but discontinued the practice after the 1951–52 season, not resuming until 1983–84. Blocked shots and steals became official men's statistics in 1985–86. In women's basketball, assists became an official Division I statistic in 1985–86, with blocks and steals following in 1987–88. Both the men's and women's lists include only triple-doubles that are officially recognized by the NCAA.
Through the 2023–24 season, the career record for triple-doubles in Division I men's basketball is held by BYU's Kyle Collinsworth with 12. On the women's Division I side, Sabrina IonescuofOregon holds the record with 26. The only active players with five or more triple-doubles through the end of 2023–24 are Western Carolina's Vonterius Woolbright (6) and Utah's Deivon Smith (5).
The lone program to have had more than one player record five or more career triple-doubles is the Iowa women's program, with Caitlin Clark joined by Samantha Logic. The only other school to have had more than one player accomplish this feat is Saint Mary's, with Brian Shaw having split his college career between Saint Mary's and UC Santa Barbara, and Louella Tomlinson having played her entire college career at Saint Mary's.
Sabrina Ionescu has recorded 26 triple-doubles, the most in Division I regardless of sex.Caitlin Clark recorded with 10 or more career triple-doubles, being the third player men or women to achieve this.
^ abExcept as otherwise noted, references for each entry are from the most recent edition of the NCAA Division I men's or women's basketball record books, both cited in the "General references" section below.
^After playing his freshman season in 2010–11, Collinsworth went on a two-year Mormon mission and did not play his sophomore season until 2013–14.
^DuPree, David (April 10, 1997). "Hill the leader in triple-double versatility". USA Today. p. 10.C. The most common triple-double is points, rebounds and assists. Of the 41 triple-doubles recorded this season (through Tuesday's games), all but three have been acquired that way.
^Frain, Riley (March 6, 2024). "Mid-Major Madness Men's Player of the Week: Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina". Mid-Major Madness. SBNation. Retrieved March 12, 2024. With back-to-back triple-doubles last week, Woolbright leads the NCAA at five this season and now with six total for his career, which stands as the current Western Carolina program record.
^"Player Biography: Shawn James". GoDuquesne.com. Duquesne University. 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2022. James' five career triple-doubles were one shy of the NCAA career record set by Drexel's Michael Anderson (1985–88) and tied by LSU's Shaquille O'Neal (1990–92)
^ ab"Ionescu sets NCAA triple-double record in Oregon win". KTVZ.com. December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2022. Penn State's Suzie McConnell and Louella Tomlinson of St. Mary's shared the mark with Ionescu until Sunday.
^Zimmerman, Kurtis (December 10, 2018). "And One: Danielle Carson, the Sabrina Ionescu of her time". HighPostHoops.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022. With six in her senior year, Carson inked her name in the record books for both single-season and career triple-doubles.
^"No. 10 Iowa beats Wisconsin for 26th straight time". Times-Republican. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022. Clark surpassed the record of six career triple-doubles set by former Iowa player Samantha Logic, who achieved the feat from 2012–2015.
