The University of Iowa will retire Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jersey in a ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 2nd. The event, honoring the basketball program's most decorated player, will be televised on FOX, with Clark expected to attend. Expressing her deep connection to the university, Clark stated, "I'm incredibly proud to be a Hawkeye, and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that goes beyond basketball." She added, "It's an honor to have my jersey retired alongside those I've long admired."
During her four years at Iowa, Clark achieved unprecedented success, breaking the NCAA all-time scoring record for both men and women. She led the Hawkeyes to two NCAA championship games and earned National Player of the Year honors twice. Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz and prominent alumni Henry and Patricia Tippie lauded Clark's remarkable impact on the program, emphasizing her inspiration to aspiring athletes. They highlighted her "indelible mark" on the university and the sport, describing the jersey retirement as a tribute to her exceptional accomplishments.
Following her college career, Clark was the first overall pick in the WNBA draft, joining the Indiana Fever. Her rookie season was historic, setting new league records for points, 3-pointers, and assists. She also became the first rookie to achieve multiple triple-doubles. Clark's remarkable year culminated in being named Time magazine's Athlete of the Year, an accolade that drew both celebration and controversy, including comments from Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson.
