'She's truly generational': Caitlin Clark's No. 22 raised to the rafters

There were 15,500 rabid Iowa fans packed into Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday afternoon, many wearing No. 22 jerseys, there to get another glimpse of Caitlin Clark. 

But this time they weren’t there to watch her play, instead to honor Clark as her jersey was raised to the rafters in a post-game ceremony.

Clark and her family sat 10 rows from the hardwood as the unranked Hawkeyes faced a Top-5 USC squad. She was the first to stand up and cheer when her former team sank a 3-pointer and the first to yell and gesture when the referees made a questionable call. 

But as the buzzer neared, the emotions followed. 

The Hawkeyes pulled off the 76-69 upset over No. 4 USC and Clark rushed down to the court, followed by a vigilant security team. She hugged each staff member, player and former teammate in attendance. 

This was a day meant for fans to honor Clark, but the next generation of Iowa women’s basketball also pulled off a massive upset. Lucy Olsen, the Hawkeye’s new point guard, had 28 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead the Hawkeyes to the surprising victory. Iowa now sits at 15-7 and is seen as a bubble team just fighting to get back into the NCAA tournament after losing Clark. 

Clark cheered on the Hawkeyes throughout the game, but then it was everyone’s turn to cheer for her.  

“I’ve often said about Caitlin, she’s truly generational,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said during the ceremony. “She changed the world…We thought she would be an All-American, and we believed she could take us to a Final Four, but did we think she would become the most recognizable athlete on the planet? Probably not.”

Jensen and former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder – who retired after last season – both spoke briefly before Clark took the microphone and addressed the crowd.

Clark thanked her teammates, her family, her coaches, and the fans.

“Today was incredible,” Clark said. “I’m pretty overwhelmed right now.” 

Clark is the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader with 3,951 points. She was the only player in NCAA Division I history, for men’s or women’s basketball, to lead their conference in scoring and assists for four straight seasons. She led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship berths.

Clark didn’t just become the face of the sport, she also took the sport to a completely different level. 

Then, she was selected with the first pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever, where she earned Rookie of the Year honors.

And now, her name hangs high in the arena where she made it happen. It was only fitting that number 22 would be honored on February 2 (2/2). 

Clark becomes the third women’s basketball player to have their number in the rafters at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, joining Megan Gustafson (No. 10) and Michelle Edwards (No. 30). 

Clark’s playing days in Carver-Hawkeye aren’t over yet, though. The Indiana Fever will play a preseason game in Iowa City this season. 

“I can’t wait to be back in here and play another game,” Clark said with a massive grin.

She sat courtside, next to former teammates Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, as a lengthy tribute played through Carver-Hawkeye Arena. New Fever head coach Stephanie White was in attendance and USC, after falling to Iowa, remained on the court to honor Clark. 

For someone who admits she’s not very emotional, Clark looked to be tearing up as her former head coach Bluder spoke. 

“The positive image that you’ve brought to this basketball program, this university, this state, and women’s basketball, nationally, is immeasurable,” Bluder told Clark. “I spent my entire career trying to empower young women. That’s what it’s all about. You’ve done more of that in the last four years than anybody could imagine.”