Caitlin Clark bid farewell to Iowa fans on Wednesday, with a large crowd eagerly awaiting her final goodbye.
Clark, who achieved the remarkable feat of becoming major college basketball’s all-time leading scorer this season, was recently honored alongside her teammates. The celebration took place at Iowa’s home arena, where they commemorated the Hawkeyes’ impressive back-to-back national runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament. It was a well-deserved recognition for Clark, who also earned the title of consensus national player of the year.
Clark expressed his gratitude to the enthusiastic crowd of around 8,000 fans at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena, acknowledging that they have been a tremendous source of inspiration to him. He humbly remarked that they have allowed him to live out his dream on a daily basis, and for that, he is incredibly grateful. The bond he shares with this place is indescribable, and it will always hold a special place in his heart.
A standout player, Clark is poised to become the top pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft. Throughout her career, she has amassed an impressive record, with a total of 3,951 points and 1,144 assists. Recognized as an All-American in each season, Clark’s journey began during her freshman year, where she showcased her skills despite limited attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The crowd erupted in applause as Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz made the exciting announcement that Clark’s jersey number 22 will be retired, making it only the third number to receive this honor in program history.
Goetz turned to Clark with a smile, saying, “I think they really like you.”
“It’s truly amazing, and I feel incredibly grateful,” Clark expressed. “Many talented players, like Kathleen Doyle and Sam Logic, have worn the number 22 for this program. It carries a lot of significance that goes beyond just me. I appreciate this opportunity, and it will be a memorable day when it finally comes.”
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder described the Hawkeyes’ consecutive appearances in the national championship game as something truly remarkable.
“This year was particularly memorable because not many believed we could achieve it,” she expressed. “The majority doubted our ability to replicate our success from the previous year, except for the remarkable women standing here with me.”
It comes as no surprise that the Hawkeyes attracted a large crowd for the event, considering their consistent ability to draw in big numbers this season.
During the regular season, the Hawkeyes had a full house for every home game, attracting a total of 238,620 passionate fans. It’s worth noting that this impressive number doesn’t even include the 55,646 spectators who flocked to Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium in October for the “Crossover at Kinnick” outdoor exhibition game, which went on to set a new record for women’s basketball single-game attendance.
The two NCAA tournament games played at home by Iowa were completely sold out, with a weekend attendance of 28,764, making it the highest attendance among all first weekend sites in the women’s tournament.
“Bluder expressed her heartfelt plea, urging everyone to return next year and fill Carver-Hawkeye Arena to its maximum capacity.”
Excited fans eagerly lined up outside the arena, braving the wait of more than two hours before the event kicked off. Their anticipation was palpable as they anxiously sought out the best seats available once the doors swung open.
Angie Leyh from Atlantic, Iowa, brought her 10-year-old daughter Lana to the event as they celebrated Lana’s birthday.
The Leyhs had already attended one game this season, which was Iowa’s NCAA Tournament opener against Holy Cross. However, when Angie realized that this particular event was scheduled on her daughter’s birthday, they made the decision to drive back for another game, despite the three-hour journey.
After the event, Clark made her way around the arena floor, signing autographs for fans just as she has done throughout her career. During the event, she shared a heartfelt story about how she and her two brothers looked up to athletes as their idols while growing up.
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