IOWA CITY — The Caitlin Clark Effect is real. And it was never more evident than on Sunday when a young unranked Iowa team faced No. 4 USC at Carver-Hawkeye Arena prior to a postgame ceremony retiring Clark’s No. 22 jersey.
With Clark cheering from the stands with her family, the Hawkeyes upset the Trojans 76-69, fueled by a standing room only crowd of more than 15,000 frenzied fans excited not only to see their program’s legendary player, but also the new-look team and coach carrying on the Hawkeyes’ rich tradition.
“It’s just the culture that we had here,” Clark told reporters in a press conference before the game. “It’s not so much the winning — the winning came because of the great culture that we had. And for me, I hope that’s the thing that always stays intact, and I know it will, because of the great coaching staff we have and the type of players that they recruit.”
“Becoming Caitlin Clark” is out now!
Howard Megdal’s newest book is here! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.
Despite Iowa’s struggles this season and the seemingly insurmountable task of facing a team with a superstar of its own on a 15-game winning streak, Hawkeye fans began filtering into the arena more than two hours before tipoff. Like last year, season tickets again sold out before the season began. But this game had an electric atmosphere not felt since Clark took the court last spring. At one point early in the first quarter, the noise level hit 118 decibels, according to Scott Dochterman of The Athletic.
Iowa rushed out to an 18-4 lead, holding the Trojans to just one field goal — a 3-pointer by sophomore guard JuJu Watkins with 26 seconds left in the first quarter. USC’s full-court press stifled Iowa’s offense in the second quarter as the Trojans stormed back and took a 29-28 lead going into halftime.
While temporarily contained, the Hawkeye faithful never lost faith and kept up the intensity in the second half. Behind transfer senior guard Lucy Olson’s 28 points — 15 coming of them in the fourth quarter — Iowa finally closed out a game and got the signature win they have been close to so many times this season.
A happy homecoming
Clark said she intended to make it back to Iowa City more than she has since her WNBA Rookie of the Year season with the Indiana Fever ended in September.
“It’s kind of a weird feeling coming back here and not being able to play, but it’s just a really exciting time for this program, and I’m very fortunate to be a part of it,” she said. “I feel very lucky that a lot of my former teammates and former coaches are here and able to support me and a lot of friends and family.”
Kate Martin, who was recently taken by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, took some time off from Unrivaled to support her good friend. Fellow Iowa backcourt starter Gabbie Marshall was also in the house, sitting right next to the basket in front of the pep band. Fever fan comedian David Letterman also sat in the front row with Martin, Marshall and former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder and her husband, David.
They were joined by Iowa’s former center Monika Czinano and Elizabeth Kitley, who recently had her jersey retired at Virginia Tech, and former Iowa starter McKenna Warnock. New Fever coach Stephanie White, president Kelly Krauskopf, general manager Amber Cox and other Pacers Sports & Entertainment executives were also on hand to support Clark and get a glimpse of the atmosphere the Fever will experience during a preseason game against the Brazilian National Team scheduled May 4 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“I couldn’t imagine getting drafted to a better franchise, a place that, just like Iowa, invests in women’s sports, and it has allowed me to thrive,” Clark said in the pre-game press conference. “I can’t wait to be back in here to place another game in front of you all.”
Mutual respect
Before Clark’s jersey retirement was announced for 2/2/2025, Iowa fans had already had this game circled on their calendar to see USC sophomore Watkins, the reigning National Freshman of the Year who is on a scoring trajectory similar to Clark’s in her first two years.
Watkins received a rousing standing ovation Sunday when she was introduced in the starting lineups, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the star player.
“It’s just a testament to what Caitlin has done and the direction the sport is heading. I’m super grateful to have a part in it and be able to showcase my talent,” she told reporters after the game.
Despite the loss, USC players, staff and families remained on the court after the game to watch Clark’s jersey retirement ceremony.
“The magnitude of this day isn’t lost on us from a non-basketball game piece of it,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb told reporters after the game. “I’m really impressed with the atmosphere here, the love for women’s basketball, the appreciation for what Caitlin’s done and Coach Bluder.”
“We had decided prior to the outcome of the game that we were going to stay out there and be part of that, to honor her, and where women’s basketball is,” she added. “And we know that the things we’re doing, we get to write our own story, but are part of a synergy around women’s basketball that has, in many ways, emanated from here. … There’s nothing I can say that hasn’t been said, but the respect she’s shown us and the humanity she’s shown us, I’m definitely a fan.”
Watkins was also glad she could watch the ceremony.
“It was great just to see the love that she gets from her community and everybody in the stands,” she said. “I’m a big fan of her, so to see her get her flowers was amazing.”
In good company
Clark is just the third Iowa women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired, joining Michelle Edwards, whose No. 30 was retired in 1990, and Megan Gustafson, whose No. 10 was retired in 2020.
Nicknamed “Ice” for her cold-blooded shooting and defensive prowess, Edwards led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two Big Ten titles from 1984–88 under Hall of Fame head coach C. Vivian Stringer.
Gustafson, who led the Hawkeyes to a Big Ten Tournament title and Elite Eight appearance in 2019, was named Naismith and AP Player of the Year after scoring 1,001 points on 70% shooting with just one 3-pointer her senior year. Like Clark, Gustafson’s jersey was retired during the season following her graduation.
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen, known as the “Post Whisperer” for how she develops post players, coached both Gustafson and Clark. She told reporters after Sunday’s game what differentiates players whose numbers hang in the rafters.
“The common thread between anybody that gets a jersey retired, it’s just their mental fortitude. They’re just able to do things that most people can’t, and it just starts with the work ethic,” she said. “But there’s an expectation for greatness, and I feel so blessed to be part of Caitlin’s life, but also Megan Gustafson’s. Michelle Edwards and the Vivian Stringer era — they laid the foundation.”
“But the great ones, it’s just really cool to be around them, the way they’re wired. They’re wired with a confidence that is just uncanny and it can lift everyone up,” she added. “My goal is hopefully maybe to get one more up there in this era.”
Clark also gave credit to Hawkeyes who wore No. 22 before her.
“I feel very lucky and fortunate because there’s also been a lot of really good players to wear this number in this program,” she said. “Sam Logic, Kathleen Doyle — those two specifically have been very supportive of myself over my career, so just thanks to them, more than anything.”
Impact far and wide
Iowa’s social media team asked fans to send in videos of how Clark had impacted them. A video was shown including everyone from cancer patients going through treatment to fathers with their young daughters and inspired fans from all around the world including Brazil and South Africa.
Erin McGovern and her 11-year-old son, Chase, from Dubuque, Iowa, appeared in the video, explaining how Clark and the Hawkeyes helped them through difficult times.
While being treated at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital for a lifelong brain disorder, McGovern’s other son, Cade, took a picture with Clark in March 2022, something he cherished until his death in November 2023 at age eight.
Later that season his older brother, Chase, took that photo to a game and had it signed by Clark.
“Thank you Caitlin, for that incredible night, not only for the scoring record, but to also let us know that Cade was with us at that game,” Erin said in the video.
Chase has been coming to Hawkeye games for the past three years, and interest in women’s basketball has expanded beyond Iowa.
Holding a JuJu Watkins No. 12 jersey Sunday, Chase told The Next about how his love for women’s basketball has inspired him to play.
“I just love watching basketball and they’re some of the best people in the world,” he said.
