- Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey is about to be retired.
- The Iowa Hawkeyes made the announcement Wednesday night during a celebration celebrating the women’s basketball team.
- Clarke is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, set for April 15.
Kaitlyn Clark’s No. 22 jersey is headed to the Razzies!
The Iowa Hawkeyes announced The point guard’s jersey was retired by the women’s basketball team on Wednesday night, breaking her collegiate career record.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s something I’m very thankful for,” Clark, 22, told 8,000 fans at the school’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the end-of-season celebration hosted by the University of Iowa Athletic Department. The Associated Press reported.
She added: “There were a lot of good 22s who came before me and played for this program, like Kathleen Doyle or Sam Logic. This number carries more weight than me. I am very grateful and it will be a special day when that happens.
For Clark, the honor comes just days before the all-time Division I NCAA scoring leader is set to be drafted No. 1 in the 2024 WNBA draft on Monday, April 15, after her breakout season. He has laid claim to several records.
Her success on the court translated into a lot of attention last year, following Iowa’s matchup against Angel Reese and Louisiana State University in last year’s national championship game.
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This year’s Sports News Athlete of the Year winners, Iowa, faced off against the University of Connecticut and then the University of South Carolina in the Elite Eight before playing in the championship game.
Although Clark was younger than Nate during her years at Iowa, the athlete’s success led to NIL success, a $5 million offer to play in the Ice Cube Big3 League, and increased viewership of women’s games.
The women’s NCAA Finals on April 7 drew more viewers than the men’s game for the first time in history. More than 18 million viewers tuned in on ABC and ESPN to watch the Gamecocks defeat the Hawkeyes 87-75.
All of this was not lost on Clark, who was named the National Player of the Year for the second time on Wednesday night. “I will say that you have inspired me as much as I have inspired you,” she told her fans on the AP. “And every day you let me live my dreams, for that, thank you very much. It was very special, and this place will always be home to me.