The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team may have fallen short in the national championship game on Sunday, but star player Caitlin Clark has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with.
Following the team’s 87-75 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks, Clark took to social media to bid a final farewell to the program and school that she helped elevate over the past four years. In a poignant Instagram post, Clark simply wrote, “I’ll miss ya,” alongside a photo of her black Iowa jersey and her yellow sneakers.
Clark and the Hawkeyes were unable to overcome the tough defense of the Gamecocks. The 22-year-old guard scored an impressive 30 points in the game on 10 of 28 shooting, including five made 3-pointers. She got her team off to a strong start in the first quarter, with a seven-point lead, but South Carolina fought back in the second quarter and never looked back.
For Clark, the disappointment of the loss is surely compounded by the fact that she will soon be bidding farewell to college basketball altogether. In just eight days, she is expected to be the number one overall pick in the WNBA draft, likely joining the next generation of superstars in the league. This national championship game was her final opportunity to showcase her skills on the college stage, and she truly gave it her all.
Despite the tough loss, Clark has much to be proud of. Over the past two seasons, she has been widely credited with helping to elevate women’s basketball to new heights. Even South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley took a moment during the team’s post-game celebration to praise Clark, thanking her for “lifting up our sport” and calling her one of the “GOATs” (greatest of all time) of the game.
In an emotional post-game media conference, Clark spoke about her pride in herself, her teammates, and her program. She acknowledged that the emotions of the loss may hit her over the next few days, but she also expressed her determination not to waste any time sulking. Instead, Clark plans to focus on her future and the possibilities that lie ahead.
As the all-time leader in NCAA scoring, it is clear that Caitlin Clark has made a profound impact on the game of women’s basketball. Her talents and work ethic have inspired countless fans and players, and she leaves behind a legacy that will surely continue to be talked about for years to come.
With her WNBA career on the horizon, we have no doubt that she will continue to be a force to be reckoned with and a true champion in every sense of the word.
Before joining the WNBA, Clark will undoubtedly take some time to reflect on her four years with the Iowa Hawkeyes. She will remember the highs and the lows, the victories and the losses, and the bonds that she formed with her teammates and coaches. And in the midst of all of this, she will undoubtedly continue to be grateful for the opportunity to have represented her school and her team in such a meaningful way.
For now, we join Caitlin Clark in bidding farewell to the Iowa Hawkeyes and the end of an unforgettable chapter in her life. We are filled with excitement and anticipation for all the amazing things she will undoubtedly achieve in the next stage of her career.
