In perhaps the most obvious jersey retirement decision in history, the University of Iowa announced Wednesday that Caitlin Clark's jersey will be retired for the Feb. 2 home game against the University of Southern California.
Fresh off a record-breaking rookie campaign with the Indiana Fever, Clark is NCAA basketball's all-time leading scorer and one of the most prolific college basketball players in the history of the sport. So her jersey retirement was always a problem whendo not have if.
Fittingly, if you want to go see Clark's jersey retirement ceremony in February, you'll be looking at the highest ticket price in women's college basketball history. At present, the admission price for seats is over $700This will be the most expensive regular season women's college basketball game in history.
Luckily for fans, there's more going on than just the retirement ceremony that night. The game itself is a battle between two people. Top 25 college basketball teams It also features some of the best young players in the game. The Hawkeyes (9-2, No. 22 nationally) will host JuJu Watkins and the University of Southern California (10-1, No. 7 nationally).
On the Iowa side, transfer guard Lucy Olsen (18.3 points, 4.9 assists per game) and junior Hannah Stuelke (13.9 points, 7.6 rebounds) stand out. USC is led by sophomore JuJu Watkins (24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds) and senior Kiki Iriafen (18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds).
To say there was never any doubt as to whether Clark's jersey would be retired would be the understatement of the century. In four seasons at Iowa, the standout point guard averaged 28.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from 3-point range. Clark led the Hawkeyes to their second consecutive national championship appearance, but ultimately lost to the runner-up. LSU in 2023 and South Carolina in 2024.
As a rookie with the Fever, Clark played All theWNBA With the first team, he averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. She led the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2018 while setting records in ratings and attendance.
Iowa State fans will no longer be able to see Clark at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but she will return to the building on February 2nd to celebrate her stellar accomplishments at the university.
