Sunday was an unforgettable day in sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where the Iowa Women’s Basketball team upset No. 4 USC in front of a raucous crowd that later witnessed history as Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey was lifted to the rafters.
In attendance were many notable women’s basketball players including Monica Czinano, Gabby Marshall, McKenna Warnock, and Kate Martin, who now plays in the WNBA for the Golden State Valkyries and the Unrivaled three-on-three league. Former head coach Lisa Bluder was on hand, sitting courtside with comedian and late-night TV host David Letterman.
Fans turned out in record-setting style, bringing energy and a decibel level that left the walls, rafters, and ears ringing.
“Words cannot express my love for my teammates, coaches, and fans and our university. Thanks for making my dreams come true. Wearing Iowa across my chest the last four years has been an honor. This place will always be home,” Clark said on X/Twitter.
Clark is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Wooden, Naismith, Wade, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Honda Cup, and AAU Sullivan awards. She was named 2024 Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) and 2024 Athlete of the Year by TIME Magazine. The two-time consensus National Player of the Year and Academic All-America Team Member of the Year led the Hawkeyes to two national runners-up finishes in 2023 and 2024 and three Big Ten Tournament titles (2022, 2023, 2024). She is also a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and is the first-ever three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Award.
Clark, who now plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, is the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons. Clark led the nation in 10 different offensive categories, including averaging 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game and also broke the NCAA women’s tournament scoring record during the Hawkeyes’ 2024 NCAA Tournament run.
Enjoy these photos by Hawkeye Athletics director of photography Brian Ray.
