Iowa

A monument to Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder? How an Iowa lawmaker wants to make it happen

Published

8 months ago

February 4, 2025

A monument to Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder? How an Iowa lawmaker wants to make it happen

A monument honoring key figures of the Iowa women’s basketball program could be built on the grounds of the Iowa Capitol.

Iowa State Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Dallas Center, introduced House File 203 on Monday, which proposes the creation of a monument for former Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark and her head coach, Lisa Bluder, which would be paid for by tax credits.

“These two women have brought great pride and attention to our state and women’s sports,” Nordman said in a post on X. “They deserve a place at their Capitol for Iowans to honor their incredible accomplishments.”

Lisa Bluder had 40-year career across three Iowa universities

Bluder, who coached women’s college basketball for 40 seasons, including the last 24 at Iowa, announced her retirement following the 2023-24 season. She finished her coaching career with 884 wins and is the winningest coach in Big Ten history. She also coached at Drake University in Des Moines and St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

In her final four years of coaching, she mentored Clark, who became the all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader and led the Hawkeyes to consecutive NCAA Tournament championship game appearances and three consecutive Big Ten Tournament titles.

How would Iowa pay for a monument to Caitlin Clark, Lisa Bluder?

Nordman’s bill hopes to raise funds by offering Iowans credits on their state taxes for making donations. It would establish a tax credit equal to 25% of a person or business’s donation to the monuments. The bill would authorize a total of $1 million in tax credits and limit individuals to a total of $50,000 in tax credit.

How have Iowa lawmakers previously honored Caitlin Clark?

Last year, Iowa lawmakers unanimously passed House Resolution 110, which dedicated February 22, 2024, as Caitlin Clark Day in the state.

The resolution cited the multiple Big Ten championships won by the Iowa women’s basketball team during Clark’s tenure, as well as their 2023 national championship runner-up status.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

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Iowa

Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren joins growing 2nd District GOP field

Published

2 days ago

September 23, 2025

Press Room

Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren joins growing 2nd District GOP field

Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, announced her run for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District Tuesday, joining a growing field of Republicans aiming to take the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. In a social media post Tuesday morning, Lundgren announced her U.S. House campaign, kicking off by stating her early support for President Donald […]

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Iowa

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson launches campaign for U.S. Senate

Published

2 weeks ago

September 14, 2025

Press Room

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson launches campaign for U.S. Senate

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson officially launched her campaign for U.S. Senate at the Radisson Hotel in Cedar Rapids on Sunday.

“In the Senate, I will fight to make America look more like Iowa,” Hinson said. “Here, we know the difference between boys and girls. We know that families deserve to keep more of what they earn, and we know the people, not the government, always come first,” she said.

Right now, Ashley Hinson represents northeast Iowa’s 2nd District in Congress.

She’s running to replace Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who announced earlier this month she would not run for re-election.

“Ashley Hinson gives me hope. Someone that I know fights for me. Someone that has my back. And somebody that will have your back,” the Jones County Sheriff, Greg Graveler said about Hinson.

Hinson told Sunday’s crowd she wants to keep deporting illegal immigrants, cut taxes, and defend farmers in agriculture.

She also addressed Democrats who she said may consider her an extremist.

“If it’s extreme to want parents in charge of our kids’ education, if it’s extreme to want safe borders and safe streets, if it’s extreme to believe that there are only two genders, then they can go ahead and call me whatever they want,” Hinson said.

While Hinson will face plenty of competition for the Senate spot from other Republicans and Democrats, she said she’s confident in her campaign.

“We can only deliver on these critical wins, and make America safer and stronger for a generation to come if we win this seat. Or correction – when we win this seat,” Hinson said.

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