‘Proud to Be a Hawkeye’: Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Jersey Will Be Retired

Iowa star Caitlin Clark celebrates after the Hawkeyes defeated LSU in an NCAA regional final game in Albany, N.Y., on April 1. Mary Altaffer/AP Photo

WNBA star Caitlin Clark will return to her alma mater at Iowa, which will retire her No. 22 women’s basketball jersey on Feb. 2 when the Hawkeyes (9—2) take on USC (10—1).

“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 statement on Wednesday. “It means the world to me to receive this honor 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,” the superstar guard added.

Clark took women’s college basketball by storm in the past few years, and in March she became the all-time NCAA scoring leader for men and women with 3,951 points—more than the late “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s old scoring record of 3,667 points. After her storied career at Iowa, Clark joined the WNBA’s Indiana Fever as the No. 1 draft pick and won Rookie of the Year this past season.

“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,” Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said in the statement. “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,” Goetz added. “Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments.”

Iowa had a competitive program before Clark’s arrival, which included 26 NCAA tournament appearances and one Final Four before 2021. Clark put the Hawkeyes at center stage of women’s college hoops with her prowess as the team reached two national championship games and won 30-plus games twice for the first time in school history.

Clark averaged 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in four seasons for the Hawkeyes between 2020 and 2024. She piled on the awards at Iowa, which included the AAU Sullivan Award, Consensus National Player of the Year, Naismith Award, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, and All-American Team Member of the Year.

Clark continued her strong production in the WNBA with 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game with the Fever this year. She led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and a 20-win season for the first time since 2015. Individually, Clark earned All-WNBA first-team honors in the process.