Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes found support from Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis as they secured a victory over the LSU Tigers on Monday.
Following Iowa’s impressive 94-87 win in the Elite 8 round, 22-year-old Clark shared a warm embrace with Sudeikis, 48, amid cheers from fans in the crowd.
In a video initially posted by Yahoo Sports, Clark is seen hugging Sudeikis, who appeared thrilled as he congratulated her on the triumph and introduced her to nearby fans.
Throughout the game, Sudeikis was spotted in the crowd cheering on Clark, and seemingly trolling Angel Reese, as the Hawkeyes as they widened their lead over LSU in the fourth quarter.
After Clark made another pivotal shot to extend Iowa’s advantage, Sudeikis playfully imitated her by covering his face with his hand in the “You can’t see me” gesture, famously employed in the NCAA tournament when LSU’s Angel Reese did it to Clark last year – a nod to Clark’s previous use of the move in earlier rounds.
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Following the victory, Sudeikis joined the Hawkeyes for their celebratory team photo, where Clark held up four fingers to signify their advancement to the Final Four.
A frequent attendee of WNBA games who had previously attended one of Clark’s games earlier this season, Sudeikis sported a Togethxr brand sweatshirt emblazoned with the message “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports.”
In a video shared on the Big Ten’s Instagram, the actor proudly displayed the words on the back of his hoodie, further showcasing his support for women’s basketball.
Clark’s stellar performance in the win included 41 points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists, guiding the Hawkeyes to their second consecutive Final Four appearance. They are set to face UConn in the national semifinals on Friday night.
After Monday’s triumph, Clark celebrated her team’s advancement to the Final Four in a post on X.
“CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!!! FINAL FOUR!!!!! HAWK FANS LETS GOOOOOO,” she exclaimed.
Speaking to ESPN after the game, Clark acknowledged the doubts surrounding the Hawkeyes this season.
“A lot of people counted us out at the beginning of the year with the people we lost, and all we did was work really hard. To get back here is really hard. This region was loaded with so much talent. The job’s not finished.”
Once the tournament concludes, Clark will shift her focus to the next chapter of her career in the WNBA. Last month, she declared for the league’s upcoming draft and is widely expected to be selected first overall by the Indiana Fever.
The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 15.
