It was never up for debate. No. 22 was never going to be worn by a Hawkeyes player ever again.
That question of when, not if, was officially answered on Wednesday, as Iowa's women's basketball program announced that Caitlin Clark's jersey would make its way to the rafters in the new year on Feb. 22.
The ceremony will be held before the Hawkeyes take on USC and Juju Watkins, the player many consider to be the next great women's college star.
"I'm forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball,” Clark said in a release from the team. "It means the world to me to receive this honour and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I've admired for so long."
Over her four-year career at Iowa, Clark became the face of college basketball, breaking every record imaginable while averaging an all-time career women's NCAA Division One record of 28.4 points per game. Her time in the black and yellow became the stuff of legends and every showing became appointment viewing.
Along with her record-breaking point totals, Clark averaged 7.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.5 steals over her four years in Iowa City. She led Division One in assists and points for all four of her collegiate seasons, becoming the first player in men's or women's NCAA history to do so.
She also helped carry the Hawkeyes to its first Final Four since 1993 and took it one step further, helping them to two straight National Finals.
Following a legendary collegiate career, Clark took her talents to the WNBA where she was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever and instantly transformed both the franchise and the league as a whole, helping the Association draw record viewership and attendance numbers. She won rookie of the year after averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game while once again, breaking records on a seemingly daily basis.
For her ground-breaking influence and talent, the 22-year-old was named Time magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2024, becoming the first women's basketball player to win the award and the second basketball player in general after LeBron James won in 2020.
“Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination,” said Beth Goetz, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie, administrative directors at the University of Iowa. “Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women’s basketball. Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
"Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments.”
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.