IOWA CITY, Iowa — The greatest Hawkeye of them all had her No. 22 jersey hoisted to the rafters forever, and the ceremony almost became a footnote to the game that preceded it.
With Caitlin Clark and her family sitting 11 rows from the floor, the Iowa women’s basketball team channeled her competitive drive in a raucous environment and upset No. 4 USC 76-69. It was a signature victory for first-year head coach Jan Jensen, and that it took place with Clark in attendance for the first time since her record-breaking run provided the confluence to a glorious afternoon for those wearing black and gold.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the “Victory Polka” blared from the Iowa Pep Band and students stormed the court in a single-file fashion because of the heavy security presence. They celebrated for about five minutes before the public address announcer urged them to scurry off the floor to start Clark’s celebration. So off they hustled in a straight line, but it wasn’t quick enough to escape several more pleas. That juxtaposition fits the day filled with celebrations tied together but completely separate from one another.
But what is unmistakable is how Clark changed the game at Iowa and how the program continues to reap those rewards. Clark’s personal stamp on…
