Caitlin Clark watches Iowa beat Drake in return to hometown, but her legacy is felt coast-to-coast

Caitlin Clark Reconnects With Lisa Bluder Right Before Iowa Hawkeyes Vs Drake Bulldogs Game

Former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark reacts after a foul call on Iowa during the Drake vs. Iowa basketball game at Knapp Center on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Des Moines.

Almost a year after playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark reunited with her college basketball coach Lisa Bluder at Knapp Center on Sunday. The Hawkeyes were scheduled to face the Drake Bulldogs.

Clark was in attendance as her old college team outlasted the Bulldogs, 86-73. The 22-year-old guard and her legendary former coach posed for photos that the team shared on Instagram later in the day.

“A couple of Hawkeye legends,” the caption said.

 

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Former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark reacts after a foul call on Iowa during the Drake vs. Iowa basketball game at Knapp Center on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Des Moines.
Caitlin Clark spent five years in Des Moines, helping the team reach the NCAA championship games in two consecutive years. She collected a number of accolades in her tenure with the Hawkeyes before leaving the program as the greatest player in its history.

The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year is now trying to do the same on a professional level with the Fever. She had a successful rookie season, helping lead the team to its first playoff appearance since 2016. However, their postseason ended too early after a first-round sweep by the Connecticut Sun.

Among the new generation of Iowa players Clark has influenced is forward Hannah Stuelke. On Thursday, the young forward shared on the “Go Next with Meghan and Zora” podcast that the Fever star offered her a piece of advice one time.

“Caitlin’s more like, ‘You better be in the gym. If you’re not in the gym, I know,’” Stuelke said. “And it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m in the gym, I promise.’”

Former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark walks through the crowd during the Drake vs. Iowa basketball game at Knapp Center on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Des Moines.
Post-Caitlin Clark Hawkeyes described by Iowa coach

With Caitlin Clark having moved on to greener pastures, Iowa Hawkeyes coach Jan Jensen reflected on what she wants to achieve with the new players and the challenges she faces as she strives to lead the team to a successful season.

Aside from Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall had also left the program.

During the Big Ten media day, Jensen opened up the team’s morale after Clark and company’s departure.

“They miss their friends, but they also know that was special and that was rare. But now it’s also their time.” Jensen said. “And I think that’s what you always want whether you have a generational player in Caitlin or any good senior class that graduates is that they’ve learned, but now they’re ready to get a few more looks.”

Jensen decided to put Lucy Olsen, Sydney Affolter, Hannah Stuelke, Addison O’Grady, and Kylie Feuerbach for Sunday’s starting lineup. The Hawkeyes secured an 86-73 win over the Drake Bulldogs, with O’Grady finishing with 27 points and Olsen with 18.

Iowa will next face the Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday.
Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Lisa Bluder and Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) talk during practice for the NCAA Women’s Final Four championship basketball game between Iowa and South Carolina at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Cleveland.
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