Kaitlyn Clark’s legacy was celebrated in grand style on Sunday when the Iowa Hawkeyes earned their biggest win of the season, defeating No. 4 USC 76-69 on the same day her No. 22 jersey was retired at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Instead of wowing the crowd with her signature 3-pointers and pinpoint passes, Clark took on the role of cheerleader and watched from the stands as her former team pulled off a thrilling upset.
A nervous homecoming for Clark
Despite playing in countless high-pressure games, Clark admitted she was more nervous about returning to the stadium where she made history than she was as a player.
“You get butterflies in your stomach when you come here,” Clark said before the game. “I don’t have to compete for 40 minutes, even if I wanted to. But I feel very lucky to be here with my former teammates, coaches, friends and family.”
Clark left Iowa as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer (3,951 points), a two-time national championship finalist and a three-time Big Ten Tournament champion. Her influence continues in the WNBA, where she won Rookie of the Year with the Indiana Fever.
Iowa pulls off a resounding win
The Hawkeyes (15-7, 5-6 Big Ten) have been struggling since losing Clark and fellow WNBA draft pick Kate Martin, but Sunday’s win was a major boost to their hopes of making the NCAA Tournament playoffs.
Clarke watched the game with her family and boyfriend Connor McCaffery, while high-profile guests including David Letterman and the Indiana Fever coaching staff were also in attendance.
Star-studded atmosphere
Clark acknowledged the intense scrutiny he faced last year, as he was escorted everywhere by security guards, but he remains steadfast.
“Everybody faces challenges, and I remind myself every day how grateful I am,” she said. “I try to treat people the way I want to be treated; that’s how I was raised.”
Iowa coach Jan Jensen encouraged her team to embrace the emotional energy without losing focus. But she also smiled when the No. 22 rally towel spread across the 15,000-seat stadium.
“I told the team, ‘We’ve got 40 minutes,’ and then I looked around and saw 22, 22, 22 everywhere,” Jensen said.
A fitting tribute
Lucy Olsen led Iowa with 28 points, while JuJu Watkins had 27 for USC (19-2). Despite their first loss since Nov. 23, the Trojans stayed on the court for Clark’s jersey retirement ceremony.
“I was really touched by the atmosphere,” USC coach Lindsey Gottlieb said. “Regardless of the outcome, we planned to stay there and pay tribute to him. The respect and humanity he showed us … I’m definitely a fan of his.”
Clark thanked her teammates, family and Iowa fans, even joking about the rising ticket prices. In the tribute video, which was shared by fans around the world, one young woman asked: “Say hello to Taylor Swift for me.”
Although Clark’s world has expanded, she credits her Iowa roots with keeping her grounded.
“Having a small, trusting circle is key,” he said. “It helped me get through the last year.”
And she’s not done playing in Iowa yet: She reminded fans that her Fever will return for an exhibition game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4.
“You should start saving up,” he joked. “I’m sure it’s going to be expensive.”
Coach Jensen summed up the day perfectly:
“Kaitlyn is a different person.”
