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Basketball

Iowa to Honor Caitlin Clark with Jersey Retirement in February

2024-12-18

In the world of Iowa women's basketball, a significant decision has been made. No player will don the number 22 once again. This is because on February 2nd, during an in-arena ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as Iowa takes on USC, Caitlin Clark's jersey will be retired. Over her remarkable four years with the program, Clark etched her name in both Iowa and NCAA record books. Last winter, within a span of 17 days, she achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the all-time women's NCAA Division I scoring leader, the major college scoring leader, and the all-time Division I men's and women's scoring champion. During her career, she also broke the record for 3-pointers in a single season, made two national championship appearances, was a four-time AP All-American, and was twice named the National Player of the Year.

Her Impact Beyond the Court

All of these achievements only scratch the surface of Clark's legacy. Her impact was palpable in the frenzy that surrounded every game she played. Iowa witnessed a surge in countless attendance records, merchandise sales, and television viewership. ESPN reported that the 2024 national championship between the Hawkeyes and Gamecocks was the most-watched basketball game (men's or women's college or pro) since 2019, averaging 18.9 million viewers and peaking at 24.1 million viewers, a remarkable 90 percent increase from the 2023 title game. Clark expressed her pride in being a Hawkeye, stating, "I'm forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball. It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I've admired for so long."

The Rafters and Beyond

When Clark's No. 22 is raised to the rafters, it will join Michelle Edwards' No. 30 and Megan Gustafson's No. 10, becoming the third women's basketball player to have their numbers honored at Iowa. Clark's transition to the professional ranks, where she made the All-WNBA first-team as a rookie with the Indiana Fever, marked a new chapter. The Hawkeyes entered a transitional season after longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retired, giving way to her longtime associate head coach, Jan Jensen, to take on the lead role. Now led by junior forward Hannah Stuelke and senior transfer guard Lucy Olsen, Iowa opened the season with an impressive eight-game winning streak. However, they have since dropped two of their last three contests, losing to Tennessee and Michigan State.

USC's Challenge

Iowa's matchup on February 2nd will be its first against the Trojans following USC's move to the Big Ten. USC is led by JuJu Watkins, who, despite being only a sophomore, is already regarded as an heir apparent to Clark in continuing to elevate women's college basketball. Tipoff for USC-Iowa is set for 1:30 p.m. ET and the contest will be aired on FOX. Director of Athletics Beth Goetz emphasized, "Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments."