Caitlin Clark shares heartfelt goodbye to college basketball following national title game loss

Iowa sharpshooter Caitlin Clark shattered nearly every record imaginable during her time with the Hawkeyes. And she also led her team to two amazing runs to the national championship game. In Sunday evening’s loss to the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, Clark still managed to stuff the stat sheet with 30 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, ensuring her place among the all-time greats in women’s college basketball history.

Once the game was over, Clark took to her Instagram account to share a heartfelt goodbye.

Caitlin Clark signing off for the Hawks 🫡 💛 🖤@CaitlinClark22 x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/vCR4Xqr5D6

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 7, 2024

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“I’ll miss ya,” Clark posted to her 1.6 million Instagram followers with a picture of her uniform and shoes in the picture. She shattered numerous records throughout her decorated career with the Hawkeyes including: single-season points scored in Division I, career three-pointers for Division I, career three-pointers in the NCAA Tournament, and career assists in the NCAA Tournament.

She exploded for 27 points or more in five of the Hawkeyes’ six games in their 2024 NCAA Tournament run to the National Championship. Her best showing came in the Elite Eight against the LSU Tigers, when she erupted for 41 points. Clark connected on nine of her 20 attempts from long range. She also dished out 12 assists and grabbed seven rebounds in their 94-87 win over LSU.

Dawn Staley calls Caitlin Clark ‘one of the GOATs of our game’

Following South Carolina‘s 87-75 win over Iowa to win the national championship on Sunday, coach Dawn Staley had a special message for the team she had just defeated.

While celebrating on the stage in the middle of the floor following the game, Staley was afforded the chance to make one last comment by ESPN’s Holly Rowe. And, boy, did she deliver.

“I really would just like to say that I have to congratulate Iowa on an incredible season,” Staley said. “Awesome. Awesome. And I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport and it just is not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well.”

“You are one of the GOATS of our game and we appreciate you,” Staley finished.

On3’s Chandler Vessels also contributed to this article.