On Wednesday, Caitlin Clark had her last opportunity to bid Iowa supporters farewell, and naturally, a sizable audience was present.
Along with her teammates, Clark became the all-time leading scorer in major college basketball this season and was named the unanimous national player of the year. The celebration took place at Iowa’s home arena to honor the Hawkeyes’ second consecutive national runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament.
“I think you guys have inspired me just as much as I have inspired you,” Clark remarked to the roughly 8,000 spectators at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa. And you made it possible for me to fulfill my dream every single day; I’m incredibly grateful for that. I will always consider this place to be home because it has been so special.
In a career that began playing in front of small crowds during her freshman year when attendance was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clark finished with 3,951 points and 1,144 assists. She is predicted to be the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever in Monday’s WNBA Draft. Clark was an All-American in every season of her career.
When Iowa sports director Beth Goetz announced that Clark’s jersey number 22, which is the third to be retired in program history, he was met with a standing ovation.
Goetz told Clark, “I think they like you,” following the news.
“I’m really grateful for it; it’s really amazing,” Clark remarked. “There have been many excellent 22s who have performed for this show before me, such Sam Logic and Kathleen Doyle. That figure is significant in ways that go far beyond me. It will be a memorable day when it occurs, and I sincerely appreciate it.”
The Hawkeyes’ consecutive journeys to the national championship game were dubbed “special” by Iowa coach Lisa Bluder.
“This year was particularly noteworthy, as no one could have predicted our success,” she remarked. “Except for these women up here, nobody thought we could repeat what we did last year.”
The fact that the Hawkeyes have been able to attract large audiences this season made the attendance at the event not surprising.
During the regular season, the Hawkeyes drew 238,620 spectators to all of their home games, and that number does not include the 55,646 spectators who attended the women’s basketball single-game attendance record-setting “Crossover at Kinnick” outdoor exhibition game in October at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium.
Iowa also sold out both of its NCAA tournament games; with 28,764 attendees over the course of the weekend, it had the highest attendance of any first-round women’s tournament site.
Bluder said, “Please come back next year.” “Next year, please pack Carver-Hawkeye Arena.”
Before the concert even began, fans were forming a line outside the venue and scrambling to get a seat when the doors opened.
It was Angie Leyh’s birthday, and she brought her 10-year-old daughter Lana from Atlantic, Iowa, to the celebration.
The Leyhs had only attended one game this season—Iowa’s NCAA Tournament opening match against Holy Cross—but they made the three-hour trek back for one more when Angie discovered the event would take place on her daughter’s birthday.
We were prepared to abandon all plans in order to ensure that she could attend. Leyh’s daughter held up a placard containing her birthday wish list, pleading for the opportunity to meet Clark or, at the at least, to obtain a picture or autograph. “This is all very amazing.”
Like she often does after games, Clark walked around the arena floor signing autographs following the event. During the occasion, she talked about how, as children, she and her two brothers looked up to athletes.
She remarked, “I wanted to be like them.” “Those were the people who gave me the freedom to dream and experience such moments.”
Leyh was aware of her daughter’s feelings toward the Hawkeyes’ recent victory, whose placard also read, “I wish to be just like you.
