session download our free app. And click on the politics tab. Tonight- Hawkeye fans filled Carver-Hawkeye Arena to celebrate another amazing season for the women's basketball team. It was also a chance to say thank you, and goodbye to the seniors, including superstar Caitlin Clark. Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz announced Clark's number "22" jersey will be retired. In a post the team said "there will never be another Caitlin Clark." KCCI's Beau Bowman was at the ceremony where support for all the Hawkeye women poured in. Beau- <BEAU ASLIVE INTRO 15 "THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE IN CARVER THIS EVENING AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, YOU'D THINK IT'S A GAME THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR, BUT EMOTIONS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BITTERSWEET, AS THEY SAY ONE FINAL GOODBYE TO THIS WOMENS BASKETBALL TEAM."> <NAT FROM OUTSIDE THE ARENA> Hawkeye fans lined up out the doors and down the street for well over an hour ... waiting to get one last look at the legendary team they've grown to love. <4213 BLAYNE MERRICK 24:54-58 "I THINK THESE PEOPLE ARE GREAT AT BASKETBALL AND THEY'RE JUST GREAT PEOPLE OVERALL"> <4216 TRACI OLESON 38:04-07"THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T GET TO DO WAS AN AWAY GAME AND I THOUGH WELL CAN'T BE SUPER SELFISH."> After all the wins, the logo threes and the championship runs... its come to the time to say goodbye. <4236 KAREN WERNER 32:45-50 "IT'S EXCITING TO BE HERE BUT IT'S SAD TO SEE THEM GO. WE LOVE THEM."> <4238 38:48-51"I MEAN IT'S SAD, IT'S BITTERSWEET... "> <NAT CAITLIN WALKING OUT> A standing ovation became routine for this group... and fitting for their last time all on the court together. <4251 LISA 47:18- 24"BEING ON MY COUCH WITH MY MOM AND DAD AND WATCHING BJK..I WANNA BE LIKE THAT! "> Head Coach Lisa Bluder talked about the inspiration the Hawkeyes brought to millions of kids across the nation... The impact Caitlin said she holds dearest. <4254 CAITLIN 55:11-19"I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS.... AND WANTED TO BE LIKE THEM."> That's something people will never forget. And Hawkeye fans will never forget this Iowa Womens Basketball team. <4251 LISA 47:34-44"AND NOW THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GIRLS AND BOYS...I WANNA BE LIKE THEM! ááCHEERSáá"> In Iowa City Beau Bowm
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Fans celebrate Hawkeyes historic women's basketball season; Iowa retiring Clark's jersey
Caitlin Clark got a final chance to say goodbye to Iowa fans on Wednesday, and of course there was a big crowd waiting.Clark, who became major college basketball’s all-time leading scorer this season on the way to being the consensus national player of the year, was honored along with her teammates in a celebration at Iowa’s home arena commemorating the Hawkeyes’ second consecutive national runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament.“I would say you’ve all inspired me as much as I inspired you,” Clark said to the approximately 8,000 fans at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “And you allowed me to live out my dream every single day, and for that, I’m very thankful. It’s been very special, and this place will always be home to me.”Clark, expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in Monday’s WNBA Draft, finished her career with 3,951 points and 1,144 assists, an All-American in every season in a career that started playing in front of sparse crowds during her freshman year when attendance was limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Clark received a standing ovation when Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz announced that Clark’s jersey number 22 will be retired, the third number to be retired in program history.“I think they like you,” Goetz said to Clark after the announcement.“It’s super incredible, something I’m very thankful for,” Clark said. “There’s been a lot of good 22s who have come before me and played for this program, whether it was Kathleen Doyle or Sam Logic. That number holds a lot of weight, far beyond me. I’m really grateful, and it will be a special day when it happens.”Iowa coach Lisa Bluder called the Hawkeyes’ back-to-back runs to the national championship game “special.”“This year’s was also special, because nobody thought we could do it,” she said. “Nobody thought we could repeat what we did last year, except these women up here.”The attendance for the event wasn’t surprising given the Hawkeyes’ ability to draw big crowds this season.MORE: Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark's presumed WNBA team, releases TV scheduleThe Hawkeyes sold out every home game, drawing 238,620 fans during the regular season, and that total doesn’t include the 55,646 fans who showed up for the “Crossover at Kinnick” outdoor exhibition game in October at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium that set the women’s basketball single-game attendance record.Iowa also sold out its two NCAA tournament games at home — the weekend attendance of 28,764 was the most of any first weekend site in the women’s tournament.“Please come back next year,” Bluder said. “Please fill Carver-Hawkeye Arena next year.”Fans were lined up outside of the arena more than two hours before the event started, racing to find seats when the doors opened.Angie Leyh of Atlantic, Iowa, brought her 10-year-old daughter Lana, who was celebrating her birthday, to the event.The Leyhs had been to one game this season, attending Iowa’s NCAA Tournament opener against Holy Cross, but when Angie saw this event was going to be held on her daughter’s birthday, they decided to make the three-hour drive to come back one more time.“We were going to drop everything to make sure she could be here,” Leyh said as her daughter held up a sign with her birthday wish list, asking for a chance to meet Clark, or at least get an autograph or a photo. “All of this is amazing.”Clark circled the arena floor to sign autographs after the event, as she has after games throughout her career. She spoke during the event how she and her two brothers idolized athletes growing up.“I wanted to be like them,” she said. “Those were the people who allowed me to dream and be in moments like this.”Leyh knew what the Hawkeyes’ recent success meant to her daughter, whose sign also said about Clark, “I want to be just like you.”“It’s a dream come true, and it’s made her dream bigger,” Leyh said.Videos from the Iowa women's basketball celebrationA.D. Beth Goetz says Iowa is retiring Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jerseyIowa basketball: Coach Lisa Bluder thanks Hawkeye fans for supportCaitlin Clark, Hawkeye women introduced during postseason celebrationIowa basketball: Caitlin Clark urges fans to continue supporting HawkeyesFans tell KCCI what they like about the HawkeyesHawkeyes in the NCAA TournamentROUND ONEHawkeyes run away from Holy CrossMarch Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa's win over Holy CrossClark, Iowa claim another record with most-viewed first-round game in women's NCAA tourney historyROUND OF 32Hawkeyes survive to top West Virginia, 64-54March Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-West VirginiaIowa women set another NCAA Tournament viewer recordSWEET 16Hawkeyes have no problem with Colorado, set up rematch vs. LSUMarch Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-Colorado in the Sweet 16ELITE EIGHTClark leads Iowa back to Final Four, scoring 41 points in win over LSUMarch Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-LSU in the Elite EightAll eyes on the Hawkeyes: Iowa-LSU is most-watched women's basketball game everFINAL FOURLisa Bluder, Hawkeyes meet with media ahead of Final Four game vs. UConnHawkeye Nation: Most states pulling for Iowa in Final Four2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four sees drastic increase in ticket sales as fans make plansIowa survives Final Four thriller vs. UConn to advance to national title gameMarch Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-UConn in the Final FourControversial foul: Late whistle on UConn's Edwards helps send Iowa to the title gameCHAMPIONSHIP GAMERecap: South Carolina tops Iowa to end Caitlin Clark's magical Hawkeye careerSouth Carolina finishes off unbeaten season by beating Iowa 87-75Caitlin Clark set out to turn Iowa into a winner. She redefined women's college hoops along the wayIowa fans return home after national championship game in ClevelandFinal AP Top 25 poll has Iowa No. 2 behind unbeaten South CarolinaIowa vs. South Carolina breaks more TV viewership records
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) —
Caitlin Clark got a final chance to say goodbye to Iowa fans on Wednesday, and of course there was a big crowd waiting.
Clark, who became major college basketball’s all-time leading scorer this season on the way to being the consensus national player of the year, was honored along with her teammates in a celebration at Iowa’s home arena commemorating the Hawkeyes’ second consecutive national runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament.
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“I would say you’ve all inspired me as much as I inspired you,” Clark said to the approximately 8,000 fans at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “And you allowed me to live out my dream every single day, and for that, I’m very thankful. It’s been very special, and this place will always be home to me.”
Clark, expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in Monday’s WNBA Draft, finished her career with 3,951 points and 1,144 assists, an All-American in every season in a career that started playing in front of sparse crowds during her freshman year when attendance was limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clark received a standing ovation when Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz announced that Clark’s jersey number 22 will be retired, the third number to be retired in program history.
“I think they like you,” Goetz said to Clark after the announcement.
“It’s super incredible, something I’m very thankful for,” Clark said. “There’s been a lot of good 22s who have come before me and played for this program, whether it was Kathleen Doyle or Sam Logic. That number holds a lot of weight, far beyond me. I’m really grateful, and it will be a special day when it happens.”
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder called the Hawkeyes’ back-to-back runs to the national championship game “special.”
“This year’s was also special, because nobody thought we could do it,” she said. “Nobody thought we could repeat what we did last year, except these women up here.”
The attendance for the event wasn’t surprising given the Hawkeyes’ ability to draw big crowds this season.
MORE: Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark's presumed WNBA team, releases TV schedule
The Hawkeyes sold out every home game, drawing 238,620 fans during the regular season, and that total doesn’t include the 55,646 fans who showed up for the “Crossover at Kinnick” outdoor exhibition game in October at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium that set the women’s basketball single-game attendance record.
Iowa also sold out its two NCAA tournament games at home — the weekend attendance of 28,764 was the most of any first weekend site in the women’s tournament.
“Please come back next year,” Bluder said. “Please fill Carver-Hawkeye Arena next year.”
Fans were lined up outside of the arena more than two hours before the event started, racing to find seats when the doors opened.
Angie Leyh of Atlantic, Iowa, brought her 10-year-old daughter Lana, who was celebrating her birthday, to the event.
The Leyhs had been to one game this season, attending Iowa’s NCAA Tournament opener against Holy Cross, but when Angie saw this event was going to be held on her daughter’s birthday, they decided to make the three-hour drive to come back one more time.
“We were going to drop everything to make sure she could be here,” Leyh said as her daughter held up a sign with her birthday wish list, asking for a chance to meet Clark, or at least get an autograph or a photo. “All of this is amazing.”
Clark circled the arena floor to sign autographs after the event, as she has after games throughout her career. She spoke during the event how she and her two brothers idolized athletes growing up.
“I wanted to be like them,” she said. “Those were the people who allowed me to dream and be in moments like this.”
Leyh knew what the Hawkeyes’ recent success meant to her daughter, whose sign also said about Clark, “I want to be just like you.”
“It’s a dream come true, and it’s made her dream bigger,” Leyh said.
March Madness: Complete coverage of Iowa's 2024 NCAA Tournament run
Videos from the Iowa women's basketball celebration
A.D. Beth Goetz says Iowa is retiring Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jersey
Iowa basketball: Coach Lisa Bluder thanks Hawkeye fans for support
Caitlin Clark, Hawkeye women introduced during postseason celebration
Iowa basketball: Caitlin Clark urges fans to continue supporting Hawkeyes
Fans tell KCCI what they like about the Hawkeyes
Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament
ROUND ONE
- Hawkeyes run away from Holy Cross
- March Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa's win over Holy Cross
- Clark, Iowa claim another record with most-viewed first-round game in women's NCAA tourney history
ROUND OF 32
- Hawkeyes survive to top West Virginia, 64-54
- March Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-West Virginia
- Iowa women set another NCAA Tournament viewer record
SWEET 16
- Hawkeyes have no problem with Colorado, set up rematch vs. LSU
- March Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-Colorado in the Sweet 16
ELITE EIGHT
- Clark leads Iowa back to Final Four, scoring 41 points in win over LSU
- March Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-LSU in the Elite Eight
- All eyes on the Hawkeyes: Iowa-LSU is most-watched women's basketball game ever
FINAL FOUR
- Lisa Bluder, Hawkeyes meet with media ahead of Final Four game vs. UConn
- Hawkeye Nation: Most states pulling for Iowa in Final Four
- 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four sees drastic increase in ticket sales as fans make plans
- Iowa survives Final Four thriller vs. UConn to advance to national title game
- March Madness: Highlights and photos from Iowa-UConn in the Final Four
- Controversial foul: Late whistle on UConn's Edwards helps send Iowa to the title game
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
- Recap: South Carolina tops Iowa to end Caitlin Clark's magical Hawkeye career
- South Carolina finishes off unbeaten season by beating Iowa 87-75
- Caitlin Clark set out to turn Iowa into a winner. She redefined women's college hoops along the way
- Iowa fans return home after national championship game in Cleveland
- Final AP Top 25 poll has Iowa No. 2 behind unbeaten South Carolina
- Iowa vs. South Carolina breaks more TV viewership records
Caitlin Clark by the numbers: Interesting facts and figures about the Iowa basketball superstar
