Notable Faces Gather for Caitlin Clark’s Jersey Retirement at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, IA – A sold-out crowd filled the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday for a special matchup between Iowa and USC, highlighted by the jersey retirement of star player Caitlin Clark. A host of prominent figures from the world of sports and entertainment attended the event, underscoring Clark’s significant impact on women’s basketball.
Clark, surrounded by former teammates Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and Monika Czinano, watched the ceremony from press row. Martin, recently selected by the new WNBA franchise Golden State Valkyries, has transitioned from her collegiate career, while Marshall is pursuing her graduate studies at North Carolina, and Czinano has shifted her focus to a medical career after retiring from basketball.
Absent from the sidelines for the first time in over two decades, former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder was present, celebrating her legacy before Clark’s jersey ascended to the rafters. Bluder, a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and the all-time winningest coach at Iowa with 396 victories, was all smiles as she reminisced about her time guiding the team, which included two Final Four runs with Clark.
Among the attendees was newly appointed Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White, who aims to harness Clark’s star power for the upcoming WNBA season. Also gracing the event was legendary television host David Letterman, sparking speculation of a possible feature on Clark in his Netflix series "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction."
The evening not only celebrated Clark’s exceptional career but also highlighted the strong community that has grown around Iowa women’s basketball, marking a remarkable chapter in the sport’s history.
Source
Photo credit dailyiowan.com
