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Fans said Clark changed the culture around women’s basketball games and put the University of Iowa on the map.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — When Caitlin Clark returned to Iowa City for her jersey retirement ceremony, she returned to a roaring and electric crowd of fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Reflecting on her time in the Hawkeye State, lifelong Iowans, young girls and Iowa students all agree: she made a mark.
Clark is a star who, born and raised Iowans said, spearheaded a seismic cultural shift surrounding women’s basketball games.
“You know they used to not fill up the stands at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and now people are paying the big bucks for seats,” Chris Guiterrez from Davenport said.
Not only that, Iowa students said she made a name for the University of Iowa, putting the school on the national stage.
“Getting to see everywhere people wearing Iowa jerseys, Caitlin jerseys and people knowing where Iowa is it’s unmatched,” University of Iowa junior Elsa Petersen said. “I didn’t know that would happen. We’re just in the Midwest.”
For the next generation, Clark’s college career taught young girls in basketball that they can do it too.
“My family we always played sports but Caitlin Clark kept me in it,” eighth-grade basketball player Olyvia Grant said. “I saw her play and she was just my inspiration.”
Clark is an Iowa native turned Iowa alumna now forever remembered at her home court.
“I don’t think anyone expected her to be the Time Athlete of the Year, get all these awards, be on SNL,” Petersen said. “She got to do so many cool things. I don’t think anyone expected that at all.”
Fans will keep cheering on Clark from Iowa City even as she plays with the Indiana Fever hundreds of miles away.
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