Superlatives abound when describing the Iowa women’s basketball team’s success, but they still fall short when discussing the team’s significance for Iowa, women’s collegiate athletics, and the next generation of girls who aspire to be like Caitlin, Kate, or Gabbie.
It seems as though there are no words to fully express the magic that these Hawkeyes have repeatedly performed to get to a second Final Four. Whether we win or lose, this has been an amazing journey full with experiences that have astounded and awed us.
Anyone who has watched the Hawkeyes knows, of course, that they are a team that plays with fun, recklessness, and speed. Of course, Caitlin Clark, a senior, is its most well-known player; she shattered a number of college basketball records that extended beyond her signature three-pointer. People have packed venues to the rafters to see her perform live, both at home and on the road. She received the AP and Naismith Player of the Year honors this week, marking her second consecutive year of winning them.
However, Clark would be the first to admit that Iowa’s success has been a result of exceptional chemistry and teamwork. Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin, two more seniors, are exceptional players who are essential to Iowa’s success. Having developed into a formidable player, Hannah Stuelke is frequently the focus of Clark’s laser passes. Junior Sydney Affolter filled in for senior Molly Davis when she sustained a knee injury late in the season, and she played a significant role in Iowa’s successful tournament run. A crucial part was performed by junior Addison O’Grady in Iowa’s Elite Eight triumph against LSU.
In college basketball, Clark has astonishingly well-handled the strain of being a star and a transformative player. The Iowa game against LSU on Monday attracted 12.3 million viewers, the most number of viewers for any college basketball game in ESPN history.
Given that these athletes are coached by Head Coach Lisa Bluder and Associate Head Coaches Jan Jensen and Jenni Fitzgerald, this is hardly shocking. The Iowa basketball program has benefited from their great leadership both on and off the court, good culture, and exceptional stability, all of which have contributed to the Hawks’ development and success.
Regretfully, this chapter is drawing to a close. Seniors Clark, Martin, Marshall, Davis, and Sharon Goodman will be leaving us. It is anticipated that Clark will be selected first in the WNBA draft. We hope they throw a goodbye party after taking home a national championship.
However, we are confident that Bluder’s team will keep putting up a thrilling and successful style of basketball at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where there will be a record number of spectators for the upcoming campaign.
However, this group is unique. It’s one of the best things we’ve ever witnessed at Iowa. Possibly the best, but certainly the most adored. Go, Hawks!
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