Caitlin Clark Honored with Jersey Retirement After Iowa's Upset Over USC
Caitlin Clark's jersey was retired by Iowa following a stunning victory against USC, and she celebrated by donating to local charities.
Caitlin Clark, star of the Indiana Fever and former Iowa standout, returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday to celebrate her jersey retirement. The event followed Iowa’s unexpected victory over JuJu Watkins and No. 4 USC. In a generous gesture, Clark donated $22,000 divided among four local charities, including the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and the Coralville Community Food Pantry.
During her speech, Iowa assistant coach Jan Jensen highlighted Clark’s charitable actions, reminding the packed arena of her commitment to giving back.
“She’s the same today as when she came in,” said Jensen. “She’s full of confidence, she’s full of grace and she has an unbelievable power to make everybody around her better.”
Clark’s impact on the community was further evident when she collaborated with Scholastic to donate 22,000 new books to various organizations.
Reflecting on her journey, Clark noted her desire to remain close to home. “Everybody knows I’m a family girl and that’s the main reason I came to Iowa, to stay in a place that I love so much, just two hours from where I grew up.”
Despite stepping away from Iowa, Clark is set to make her return to the arena, as her team prepares to face the Brazilian national team in a preseason game on May 4.
