Iowa
Iowa women’s basketball to retire Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey vs. JuJu Watkins and USC
Watch Beth Goetz deliver news that Caitlin Clark’s #22 will be retired
The Iowa women’s basketball program held an end-of-season celebration at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday.
IOWA CITY — Anyone who has visited Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season has seen the banner rolled up in the rafters, waiting to be unveiled at the perfect time. No one can see what’s on it. But everyone attached to Iowa women’s basketball knows what’s on it.
It comes down Feb. 2.
Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 will be retired on, by no coincidence, 2-2-25, the university announced Wednesday. The ceremony will coincide with arguably the Hawkeyes’ biggest home game of the season, as JuJu Watkins and USC will be in the building to watch Clark’s legacy further cemented in Iowa women’s basketball lore.
“I’m forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball,” Clark said in a school release. “It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I’ve admired for so long.”
It was announced in April at the team’s end-of-year celebration that Clark’s jersey would be retired in the near future, a fitting announcement as Iowa honored another team reaching the national title game. After proudly proclaiming she’d take Iowa to its first Final Four in three decades, Clark did that twice and then some with a bevy of unforgettable heroics and accolades.
Atop the list is her unmatched scoring prowess. In a 17-day span from Feb. 15 to March 3, Clark broke Kelsey Plum’s all-time women’s NCAA Division I scoring record, passed AIAW legend Lynette Woodard for the major college scoring record, then passed LSU’s Pete Maravich for most career points in Division I history.
Clark is a two-time recipient of the Wooden, Naismith, Wade, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Honda Cup and AAU Sullivan awards. The two-time consensus national player of the year led Iowa to back-to-back national championship games (2023-24) and three Big Ten Tournament titles (2022-24). Clark also won the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and Dawn Staley Award three times each.
Clark is the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists four consecutive seasons. In her senior year, Clark led the nation in 10 different offensive categories, and broke the women’s NCAA Tournament scoring record. She’s since been drafted No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever, won WNBA rookie of the year and was named TIME Magazines athlete of the year.
“Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination,” Iowa AD Beth Goetz said in a statement. “Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women’s basketball.
“Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments.”
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
Iowa
States including Iowa, Nebraska reach $150M settlement with Mercedes-Benz
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – A coalition of states including both Iowa and Nebraska reached a nearly $150 million settlement with Mercedes-Benz.
The states allege over 200,000 diesel vehicles were illegally equipped with devices designed to cheat on emissions tests between 2008 and 2016.
Mercedes allegedly hid the existence of these devices from regulators and people purchasing the vehicles.
Copyright 2025 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Iowa
See where Iowa State basketball ranks in the AP and coaches polls
Iowa State basketball is now ranked in the top three.
The Cyclone men improved to 13-0 this week after obliterating Long Beach State on Dec. 21 at Hilton Coliseum.
With the holiday week, Iowa State is off before returning for a home game Monday, Dec. 29, against Houston Christian at 7 p.m.
Here is a look at where the Cyclones stand in the latest college basketball rankings:
Iowa State rankings update
Iowa State moved up one spot to No. 3 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. The Cyclones were previously at No. 4.
USA TODAY Sports men’s college basketball coaches poll
Here is a look at the new USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll.
- Michigan
- Arizona
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Purdue
- Duke
- Gonzaga
- Houston
- Michigan State
- BYU
- Vanderbilt
- North Carolina
- Nebraska
- Louisville
- Alabama
- Texas Tech
- Kansas
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Florida
- Iowa
- Georgia
- USC
Others receiving votes
St. John’s 32; Kentucky 32; Seton Hall 20; Utah State 15; Auburn 10; California 9; UCLA 8; Saint Louis 8; LSU 6; Yale 4; Oklahoma State 3; Saint Mary’s 1; Indiana 1; Clemson 1;
AP Poll
Here is a look at the new Associated Press poll.
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Purdue
- Duke
- Gonzaga
- Houston
- Michigan State
- BYU
- Vanderbilt
- North Carolina
- Nebraska
- Alabama
- Texas Tech
- Louisville
- Kansas
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Florida
- Georgia
- USC
- Iowa
Others receiving votes
Kentucky 78, Seton Hall 49, Auburn 39, St. John’s 23, California 19, LSU 17, UCLA 13, Clemson 9, Miami (Ohio) 6, Utah St. 5, Arizona St 5, Indiana 4, Miami 4, Saint Louis 3, Belmont 2, Baylor 1, Oklahoma St. 1, UCF 1, NC State 1.
Iowa
Jaxx DeJean, brother of Hawkeye icon Cooper, commits to Iowa football
Video: Kirk Ferentz on Iowa football’s QB situation post-Mark Gronowski
Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz meets with media on Dec. 18, 2025
Class of 2027 prospect Jaxx DeJean, the younger brother of former Iowa football star Cooper DeJean, has committed to the Hawkeyes.
Jaxx DeJean made the announcement via social media on Dec. 21.
DeJean, listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, committed to Iowa as a tight end.
DeJean is a 3-star prospect and the fifth-ranked player in the state of Iowa’s 2027 high school class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
As a junior at OABCIG, DeJean showed versatility offensively. He led the team with 36 receptions for 461 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 207 yards and three touchdowns. DeJean also passed for 149 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, DeJean recorded 18.5 total tackles and three interceptions.
DeJean was named honorable mention All-Iowa by the Des Moines Register.
The Odebolt product earned offers from UNLV, Kansas State, Michigan, UAB and Iowa.
DeJean has become a well-known last name in the Hawkeye and NFL communities.
Cooper DeJean became an Iowa legend in three seasons with the Hawkeyes, starring as a defensive back and punt returner. As a junior, DeJean was Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.
DeJean’s story rose to new heights once he got to the NFL. He somewhat surprisingly slipped to the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but was scooped up by the Philadelphia Eagles, which ultimately proved beneficial for both sides. As a rookie, DeJean picked off a pass from megastar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it for a touchdown in Super Bowl LIX to help the Eagles take down the Chiefs.
Before the 2024 NFL Draft, DeJean commented on the recruitment of brother Jaxx.
“I want him to make his own decision,” Cooper said of Jaxx in March of 2024. “If he could be here, that’d be awesome. We’ve all grown up Iowa fans, but I’ll definitely be giving my pitch, for sure.”
Jaxx DeJean is the third prospect to commit to Iowa’s 2027 recruiting class this month.
4-star Bettendorf linebacker Gavin Stecker announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Dec. 9. Less than one week later, Pleasantville High School Braylon Bingham also committed to Iowa as a linebacker. And now, DeJean becomes Iowa’s first offensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
All three members of Iowa’s 2027 recruiting class are in-state products.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
-
Iowa1 week agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Iowa1 week agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine7 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland1 week agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
New Mexico6 days agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
South Dakota1 week agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago‘Love being a pedo’: Metro Detroit doctor, attorney, therapist accused in web of child porn chats
-
Health1 week ago‘Aggressive’ new flu variant sweeps globe as doctors warn of severe symptoms