On Wednesday, Caitlin Clark had a heartfelt farewell with the Iowa fans, attended by a large audience eager to celebrate her remarkable achievements.
Clark, celebrated for becoming the highest scorer in major college basketball history and earning the title of unanimous national player of the year, was recognized along with her teammates for the Hawkeyes’ remarkable achievement of finishing as the national runner-up in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.
Addressing around 8,000 fans at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Clark expressed her gratitude, saying, “You’ve all inspired me as much as I’ve inspired you. You’ve enabled me to fulfill my dream every day, and for that, I’m deeply grateful. This has been an extraordinary journey, and this place will forever be my home.”
As the anticipated top pick for the Indiana Fever in the upcoming WNBA Draft, Clark concluded her illustrious career with an impressive 3,951 points and 1,144 assists, earning All-American honors each season. This journey began in her freshman year, playing before limited crowds due to the pandemic.
The celebration also included the announcement by Iowa’s athletics director, Beth Goetz, that Clark’s jersey, number 22, would be retired — a rare honor in the program’s history. Clark humbly acknowledged the significance of this number, reflecting on the legacy of past players and expressing her gratitude for the honor.
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Coach Lisa Bluder praised the team’s consecutive bids for the national title as remarkable, emphasizing the team’s determination against doubts of their ability to repeat the previous year’s success.
The event’s high attendance was not surprising, given the team’s popularity, evidenced by sell-out games and record-breaking crowds at both regular-season and NCAA tournament games, highlighting the strong community support for the team.
The community’s enthusiasm was palpable, with fans, like Angie Leyh and her daughter Lana, making significant efforts to attend the event, underlining the profound impact Clark and the team have had on their fans. The event was not just a celebration of achievements, but a testament to the dreams and aspirations Clark has inspired in young fans, emphasizing the powerful role athletes play in inspiring the next generation.
A well deserved honor for Caitlin.
