Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes fans had one last chance to say goodbye and reminisce over Caitlin Clark best moments over the years. Returning from a disappointing end to the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, Clark returned home to a big crowd. Nothing else could have been expected.
It is the final moment in what has been, without a doubt, the most illustrious college career by any player, men or women. Clark has achieved more than a few things during her career. She now prepares to embark on the next journey, which will begin with her being picked first overall in the WNBA Draft. Meanwhile, let’s look back at her career at Iowa.
Records Galore
You can’t talk about Caitlin Clark without talking about the incredible number of records she holds. We’re going to break this down because it could take a while to cover all of her achievements in college.
Player of the Year
She could fill an entire article with just her Player of the Year achievements. Clark was the Big Ten Player of the Year three times in her four years. She won back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year awards, the Wade Trophy, the John R. Wood Award, the AP Player of the Year, and more.
Every conceivable postseason accolade, Clark achieved. Earning back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and Wood Award accolades is about as dominant as one can be. It will be tough for anyone to follow in those footsteps.
Individual Records
And then there are the individual records. It goes without saying, but she is Iowa’s all-time leader in scoring and assists in terms of single game, single season, and career numbers. Her biggest accolade is being the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader for both men and women.
Clark also set records in the NCAA Tournament, showing that she shined on the biggest stage. She had the most career assists, three-pointers, and points in NCAA Tournament history, plus tied the record for the most threes made in a single NCAA Tournament Game.
Caitlin Clark Best Moments For Iowa
With a resume like that, how can you narrow down the moments? We will do our best, but there are a few that definitely stand a cut above the rest. Let’s take a look at the handful of moments that really stand apart for the Iowa legend.
Committing to Iowa
Before you can even begin to talk about her career achievements, you have to talk about her committing to Iowa in the first place. Her choices were down to Iowa, Iowa State and Notre Dame. Clark was even rated as the top recruit in the 2020 class according to ESPN.
She came to campus with large expectations and somehow managed to exceed them all. It was no doubt a big day when Iowa landed her commitment. Little did they know just how great a player they were getting in the end.
Buzzer-Beater Against Indiana
If you want to pinpoint a moment when Clark’s profile took a big step forward, it is the game against No. 2 Indiana. In February 2023, Clark and the Hawkeyes ran up against the Hoosiers and entered as definitive underdogs.
The clip has been viewed a million times now, but the sequence is memorable. Catching the shot, making a quit turn, getting the shot off, and celebrating with a sprint as the ball rattled and fell. The 86-85 win truly set the stage for what Clark could (and would) do at Iowa.
First Final Four Since 1993
The 2023 NCAA Tournament was memorable for Iowa and Clark. She started the tournament off strong, going for 26 and 22 points, respectively, in the first two wins. She put up 31 points in a Sweet 16 win over Colorado to set the stage for the Elite Eight.
Iowa dominated Louisville in the Elite Eight thanks to Clark. She went off for 41 points in that win, setting the stage for the program’s first Final Four appearance since 1993. Clark had delivered for the Hawkeyes and the sky seemed to be the limit.
Stunning South Carolina
Speaking of that 2023 run, it did not culminate with that Final Four appearance, which just happened to be against dominant No.1 South Carolina. Going into the game, Iowa was a major underdog facing the undefeated Gamecocks.
Clark did not let the performance against Louisville be her best. She again went off for 41 points against the Gamecocks, fueling the 77-73 upset victory. No one was surprised by Clark and the Hawkeyes had found themselves in the national championship against LSU. The unfortunate thing is that the run ended there. LSU dominated the title game, winning 102-85 to leave Clark and Iowa wanting more.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark shoots past South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso during the second half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinals basketball game Friday, March 31, 2023, in Dallas. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
The Final Run
The only blemish on the career of Clark is the lack of a national championship. The Hawkeyes made it all the way to the national championship in 2023, only to fall short against LSU. Despite Clark having 30 points and 8 assists, Iowa fell to LSU 102-85.
Coming into the 2024 tournament, the goal was clear and simple: to win it all. As a No. 1 seed, things mostly went easily for the Hawkeyes, at least early on. Iowa came in having won its third consecutive Big Ten Tournament title and had all the momentum in the world.
It seemed as though the path of redemption was coming to fruition. Iowa ran into LSU in the Elite Eight, and Clark was able to exercise the demons. Clark had an incredible 41 points and 12 assists as Iowa beat LSU, Clark tying the NCAA record with nine three-pointers in an NCAA tournament game.
The Final Four saw Iowa toppled national power UConn, setting the stage for another visit to the national championship. Unfortunately, Iowa ran into the totally dominant South Carolina Gamecocks. Clark had 30 points, but the Hawkeyes fell short of their ultimate goal for the second year in a row.
Caitlin Clark checks out of her last game as an Iowa Hawkeye 💛👏
— ClutchBet (@ClutchBetSB) April 7, 2024
Her Legacy And Caitlin Clark Best Moments In Iowa
It can be said without hyperbole that Clark is a generational talent and one of the greatest players ever in college basketball, men’s or women’s. Hawkeyes fans will relive Caitlin Clark best moments in Iowa for generations to come. Her shooting range is nearly unlimited, and she was often compared to Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors for her ability to hit shots from anywhere.
Her impact on the game, as a whole, cannot be understated. The women’s tournament received more attention than ever before, and Clark was a major factor in that. Television viewership and attendance numbers were higher than ever, especially when Clark was involved.
To put it in perspective, Iowa’s regular season games featuring Clark became the highest-viewed women’s basketball games for a whopping six different networks – Peacock, NBC, FS1, Fox, ABC, and the Big Ten Network. Her final regular season game was the most-watched women’s game since 1999.
In the end, she will be credited for being a great player but her impact on the women’s game, as a whole, cannot be understated. She has brought more attention to the game than ever, and the current stars are now getting more recognition as well. She has helped to grow the game and now has the chance to have the same impact on the professional game.
