The superstar of the WNBA Caitlin Clark made a triumphant return to Iowa Sunday.
The Indiana fever guard did not return to his former local sand to play a game. However, she still confessed to 'butterflies'.
Clark's number 22 was retired in a ceremony in Carver-Hawkeye Arena after the 76-67 victory of the Hawkeyes over No. 4 of the USC, a season after completing his historic university career.
“I feel that I already have those butterflies in my stomach when you enter here,” Clark said during a press conference prior to the game.
'It is not so much for a basketball game now, but obviously just to be close to everyone and enjoy this environment. I don't have to go and compete for 40 minutes, although I would like power. I think it will definitely be a bit more emotional that you don't have to compete. '
Clark was on the central court with his family when No. 22 went up to the beams. I was smiling throughout the ceremony, it even seemed to get excited sometimes.
The WNBA Caitlin Clark superstar returned to the Carver-Hawkeye Arena from Iowa on Sunday
The Hawkeyes removed their 22 shirt in a ceremony after their 76-67 victory over No. 4 USC
The fever joined his family on the central court when his shirt was lifted to the beams
Jersey's retirement limited a historic career for Clark in Iowa. It became the top scorer of all time of university basketball while led the Hawkeyes to consecutive appearances in the NCAA National Championship game in the last two seasons.
A multitude sold of 14,998 included Lisa Bluder, the former Clark coach in Iowa and Stephanie White, Clark's current coach with Indiana fever of the WNBA. The Fever will play an exhibition game in Iowa next season.
The former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, were in the seats with the former host of the interview show David Letterman. The coaches and players of the USC remained on the court after the game to witness the ceremony.
“I'm sure it was not cheap to enter,” Clark joked during the ceremony.
Iowa coach Jan Jensen told Clark for the first time as a first -year student at West des Moines Dowling High School.
“Our staff, we made a pact that we were going to do everything possible to be the last standing,” Jensen said. And we are very grateful that we were the last ones. Caitlin, she is truly generational. She changed the world.
“The positive image that has brought to this basketball program, this university, this state and female basketball nationwide is unmissable,” said Bluder. 'I have spent all my career trying to empower young women. That's what it is about. But you have done more than that in the last four years, more than anyone can imagine.
Clark reflected before the game in his time with the Hawkeyes, when he was part of the teams that reached the four NCAA tournaments and won three Big Ten tournaments.
The 23 -year -old signed innumerable autographs for fans who had seen the ceremony
Clark became the leading scorer of all the basketball time of the University during his time in Iowa
The former show-show presenter, David Letterman (left) had a seat on the court for the event
“The profit occurred due to the great culture we had,” he said. 'And for me, I hope it is what always remains intact, and I know it will, due to the great coaching staff we have and the type of players who are here.
'We had selfless players. We had players who didn't care how many points you were going to score. They will do what they could for your teammates. They were going to hold their teammates responsible. And I think that is the art lost in the university these days, and you do not always see that.
Clark knows that he is in a constant media care center in these days, whether he attends concerts or joins Taylor Swift in a suite in a playoff game of the NFL of Kansas City Chiefs. She said she understands the criticisms that come with attention.
“I feel that one of my greatest skills is that I really don't care,” Clark said. 'I don't care, I believe in myself. I have confidence in myself. I have confidence in my teammates. I try to instill that in them. I have confidence in the coaching staff in any team in which I was, be it here, whether it is with fever now, and you only trust those people. No one gets into your wardrobe. Everyone thinks that they know everything and have an answer, but that is not reality. '
Clark's shirt was hung on the beams the same day South Carolina removed the A'JA Wilson shirt. Both carried 22 at the University.