Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City has been a sight to behold this season. A banner hangs in the rafters, patiently awaiting its grand unveiling at the perfect moment. No one yet knows what lies beneath, but those connected to Iowa women's basketball hold the secret close.

Honoring a Basketball Legend

On February 2nd, Caitlin Clark's No. 22 will be retired. This significant event will occur on 2-2-25 and coincides with what is arguably the Hawkeyes' most important home game of the season. JuJu Watkins and USC will be in attendance as Clark's legacy is further solidified in Iowa women's basketball history.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."In April, at the team's end-of-year celebration, it was announced that Clark's jersey would be retired in the near future. This was a fitting announcement as Iowa had just honored another team reaching the national title game. Clark had proudly proclaimed that she would take Iowa to its first Final Four in three decades, and she achieved this remarkable feat twice, accompanied by a series of unforgettable heroics and accolades.Among her many achievements, Clark's scoring prowess stands out. From February 15 to March 3 in a 17-day span, she broke Kelsey Plum's all-time women's NCAA Division I scoring record. She then surpassed AIAW legend Lynette Woodard for the major college scoring record and passed LSU's Pete Maravich for the most career points in Division I history.More: Caitlin Clark named Time magazine’s 2024 Athlete of the YearClark is a two-time recipient of the Wooden, Naismith, Wade, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Honda Cup and AAU Sullivan awards. As a two-time consensus national player of the year, she led Iowa to back-to-back national championship games (2023-24) and three Big Ten Tournament titles (2022-24). She also won the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and Dawn Staley Award three times each.Clark is the only player in NCAA Division I men's or women's basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists for four consecutive seasons. In her senior year, she led the nation in 10 different offensive categories and broke the women's NCAA Tournament scoring record. Since then, she was drafted No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever, won WNBA Rookie of the Year and was named TIME Magazine's Athlete of the Year.Iowa AD Beth Goetz said in a statement, "Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination. Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women's basketball. 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."More: How to buy tickets for Iowa vs USCDargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.