Iowa honors Caitlin Clark by retiring her number and hanging it in the rafters

Caitlin Clark made a heartfelt return to Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, not to compete but to celebrate the retirement of her jersey number 22 after the Hawkeyes' victory over No. 4 USC. Despite not being in the game, Clark felt the familiar "butterflies" as she reminisced about her time on the court. "It will definitely be a little bit more emotional that I don't have to compete," she remarked during a pregame press conference, looking forward to savoring the moment with friends and family.

The ceremony was a fitting conclusion to Clark's legendary college basketball career, where she set a record as the all-time leading scorer and led Iowa to consecutive NCAA championship game appearances. Surrounded by a sellout crowd that included her former coach Lisa Bluder and current WNBA coach Stephanie White, Clark received the honor with radiant smiles. "I'm sure it wasn't cheap to get in," she joked, acknowledging the support from her fans.

Coach Jan Jensen reflected on Clark's impact, recalling the moment she first saw her talent in high school. Jensen expressed gratitude for Clark's transformative role in the program: "Caitlin, she's truly generational. She changed the world." Bluder highlighted Clark's profound influence on women's basketball and the empowerment of young women, reinforcing the significance of her contributions over the past four years.

Looking back, Clark fondly remembered the strong culture that defined her teams at Iowa, emphasizing teamwork and selflessness. "The winning came because of the great culture that we had," she said, stressing the importance of accountability among teammates, which she believes is becoming rare in college sports today. She expressed confidence that this culture will endure in the years to come.

Amid her growing fame, Clark acknowledged the scrutiny that follows her, yet she remains unbothered by the attention. "I feel like one of my greatest skills is I really don't care," she said, emphasizing her self-belief and trust in her teammates and coaches. The day also marked a special occasion as both Clark and South Carolina's A'ja Wilson had their jersey numbers retired, celebrating their shared legacy in women’s college basketball.