Iowa
‘So happy I want to cry’: 7,000 fans celebrate Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball team
“I would say you all inspired me as much as I inspired you.”
That was how superstar guard Caitlin Clark opened her remarks to the more than 7,000 University of Hawkeye fans who packed into Carver-Hawkeye Arena Wednesday night to celebrate the team’s second-straight NCAA Final Four appearance.
The crowd — comprised of fans of all ages and many donning Clark’s name and number on their back — roared for seniors, returning players, coaches and managers as they were announced.
The full lineup was on hand for the celebration, with head Coach Lisa Bluder and seniors Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Molly Davis and Sharon Goodman speaking to the large crowd.
When the celebration wrapped up, Clark hung around to sign autographs for more than half an hour as hundreds of eager children — most of them young girls — held out hats, posters, signs, and T-shirts for her to immortalize.
They shouted her name endlessly, and she responded to as many as she could.
Those lucky enough to receive Clark’s coveted signature were beaming as they marched out of the arena.
Blair Merrick, 7, and her sister Blayne, 11, were among those who got autographs from the team.
“I feel real happy, so happy I want to cry right now,” Blair said.
Alyssa Noss, who attended several games over the last two seasons, stayed with her daughter until the arena emptied.
“My daughter is a huge Caitlin Clark fan, and her friend is a huge Gabbie Marshall fan,” Noss said. “They idolize all of them. This team is just incredible.”
More: Iowa announces it will retire Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey, third retired number in women’s basketball program history
University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson, Athletic Director Beth Goetz and Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague joined the team on the hardwood for the festivities.
Goetz confirmed that Clark’s No. 22 would hang in the rafters forever, drawing a lengthy roar from the Carver crowd. Teague declared April 10, 2024, as “Iowa Women’s Basketball Day” in Iowa City at the beginning of the festivities.
More: Kim Reynolds says Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball ‘changed women’s sports forever’
“You’ve changed the game that you’ve played,” Wilson said. “You’ve changed the face of collegiate athletics. You’ve created special memories for countless families. And you left an indelible mark on our university.”
Bluder credited the effect the Iowa women’s basketball team has created for younger kids.
“Now there’s thousands and thousands of girls and boys all around this country that say, ‘I want to be like them.’”
The final words from the seniors
“I want (fans) to remember how hard I worked,” Marshall said when asked what she hoped everyone remembers about her time. “I’ve always given it my all on the court and in everything that I do in life. Everybody matters here, speaking to the culture Coach Bluder has built. We’re really a family here.”
“You have to believe in yourself, because if you don’t, no one else will,” Martin said.
“It’s absolutely awesome!” Davis said of the fan support. “I mean, coming from a place where there’s about 1,500 people in the stands to 15,000 a game, it’s really special and happy to be a part of it.”
More: WNBA counting on Caitlin Clark bump as Indiana Fever get most national TV games for 2024.
“Our coaches really value academics and so to be at a place where they support that and value that even above basketball itself,” Goodman said on balancing school and basketball. “They want us to be strong women, and women that are doing something more than less.”
“I would say you all inspired me as much as I inspired you and you allowed me to live out my dream every single day and for that, I’m forever thankful,” Clark said in her final remarks to fans. “Thank you. It’s been very special and this place will always be home to me.”
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
Marc Ray covers high school sports for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at maray@press-citizen.com or follow him on Twitter/X @themarcszn.
SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KTIV) – A Woodbury County woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital after a rollover took place in Sioux County.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 45-year-old Jenni Madison of Sioux City was taken to the hospital Saturday, July 11.
Authorities say at about 12:01 p.m., deputies investigated a rollover that took place on Highway 60, one mile south of Alton. According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the car was traveling north on Highway 60 when the driver lost control, entered the median and rolled.
Deputies say Madison was taken by ambulance to the Orange City Area Health System to be treated for minor injuries. The vehicle sustained $12,500 in damage.
Orange City Fire Department, Alton Fire Department, Alton Ambulance, the Orange City Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol helped the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.
Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.
Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
A number of Iowa high school baseball standouts were selected during the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. The amateur draft was conducted July 11-12, 2026 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gable Mitchell, Kaleb LaFavor, Caleb Klein, Sam George, Nate Smithburg and Kooper Schulte each heard their names called during the draft.
Gable Mitchell Was Two-Way Star For Iowa City High
Mitchell, an Iowa City High grad, was picked in the eighth round with the 193rd overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. He played his collegiate baseball at the University of Iowa after batting .466 with 12 extra-base hits, 55 runs scored, 29 RBI and 25 steals, going 5-0 with a 0.95 earned run average and 18 strikeouts as a senior.
In high school, Mitchell was an all-stater in baseball and earned all-conference honors on the football field. His grandfather is Dan Gable, an Olympic wrestling gold medalist who led the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA championships.
Kaleb LaFavor Lone Current Iowa High School Baseball Player Selected
LaFavor, currently a senior at Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round with the 304th pick. He has gone 3-1 with 40 strikeouts and a 0.79 earned run average in just under 18 innings on the mound this summer.
Klein, a Western Dubuque High School prep, played at Southeastern Community College and Southeast Missouri. He helped lead the Bobcats to back-to-back Class 3A Iowa High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament championships.
During his senior season at Western Dubuque, Klein hit .414 with nine doubles, seven triples, 49 runs scored and 30 RBI, stealing 20 bases. He went to the Atlanta Braves with the 442nd pick in the 15th round.
Several Former Iowa High School Baseball Players Hear Their Names Called
George, a former Pleasant Valley High School standout, played for Minnesota State University this past spring and was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round with the No. 581 overall selection.
In his final high school season with the Spartans, he struck out 62 batters in 44 innings, putting together a 2.07 earned run average.
Smithburg was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round with the 533rd pick after playing at Fairfield High School and for the Oklahoma Sooners.
As a senior, Smithburg went 6-1 with 83 strikeouts and a 0.43 earned run average in 47 innings pitched on the mound.
Schulte, who played at New London High School, played collegiately at Central Arizona, Southeastern Community College and for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round with the 600th pick overall.
He was an all-stater for New London in 2022, helping lead them to a state baseball championship that same season. As a senior, Schulte hit .444 with six home runs, 13 doubles, 50 runs scored, 44 RBI and nine steals, recording three saves and 29 strikeouts in just over 14 innings pitched.
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The Saints claimed a victory in its series finale at Iowa, defeating the I-Cubs 5-4 to snap a four-game losing streak.
Orlando Arcia’s third-inning double scored Matt Wallner and Aaron Sabato to give St. Paul (50-41) the lead for good in the third inning.
Iowa scored twice in the ninth and threatened to steal away the win before reliever Trent Baker struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the game and earn the save.
Ben Ross and Kyler Fedko hit homers for the visitors.
Matt Bowman, who relieved Saints starter Aaron Rozek in the fifth inning, claimed the win.
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