Iowa
‘It sold out in 45 minutes.’ Iowa can’t wait to celebrate Caitlin Clark homecoming
Lisa Bluder will be among 15,000 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday to cheer Caitlin Clark. She recalls the exact moment she knew Clark became a star.
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder remembers the exact moment she saw Caitlin Clark’s game make national news for the first time.
It was Feb. 6, 2022, and the Hawkeyes were stuck in the airport after a sobering loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was a game where Iowa was down by as many as 22 points, and at points, seemed insurmountable.
With Clark, though, it wasn’t truly over.
The sophomore took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points and making four 3-pointers over six minutes. Every 3 seemed like it was going to be a heat check; each time, it went in. At one point, she pushed her way through all five of Michigan’s defenders for a layup, causing the Iowa bench to throw their hands up in disbelief.
Clark ended up scoring 46 points that night, setting a Crisler Center record and a new career high. It was a loss, but it got what the young superstar thought was something even bigger — a spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10.
The Hawkeyes stared at the airport TV in awe as they saw Clark’s efforts broadcasted on national television.
“Coach Bluder wasn’t even that mad that we didn’t win. She was like, staring at the TV like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Clark told David Letterman on ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.’ “Everybody was just kind of in awe. Even I was like ‘Wow, we’re on SportsCenter. We made SportsCenter top 10.’”
Bluder remembers it slightly different, but she knew it was the start of Clark’s superstardom. And they were witnessing it in real time.
“We could see the ESPN replays going on, but I remember being a little more disappointed than she does about the loss, because obviously, you’re going there to win,” Bluder told IndyStar. “But also, you know, I was just amazed at the way that she brought us back and gave us an opportunity to win that game.
“That’s when it really did start to explode, because then all the men’s basketball players and armchair point guards were all of a sudden paying attention to what was going on.”
ESPN’s cameras will be back at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday as Clark brings her Indiana Fever to Iowa City to face the Brazilian National team in a celebration and thank you from the state she gave so much to.
Clark became a household name what seemed like overnight after that Michigan game. The Hawkeyes recorded three sellouts in 2022, including when they hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Iowa City.
By the time Clark’s junior year came around, she was a household name. The curtains, which blocked out unsold seats at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, were permanently up. Fans came from near and far to see the Hawkeye sensation, who was on her way to becoming the undisputed National Player of the Year.
“It was even international, like people were coming from other countries to watch her,” Bluder said. “There were newspaper reporters from France coming to interview and talk about her. It wasn’t an Iowa thing, it wasn’t a Big Ten thing, it wasn’t a Midwest thing. It really was a national phenomenon. It’s fun to be a part of something like that, right? I mean, you know, it can be tiring, it can be pressure-filled, but it’s also a lot of fun.”
It was something special with Clark, too. Not many players, in the men’s and women’s game, had the amount of juice she did. Not many players could garner those constant sold-out crowds, home and away, as a college player, and help set higher and higher viewership records.
It had to do with her game, of course — her long-range 3-pointers and crafty, no-look passes drew a lot of people in. But what made people stick around, Bluder said, was the type of person Clark is off the court.
“I think it’s her style of play, and I think it’s her relatability,” Bluder said. “I think people can really relate to her, just because she is so honest and she’s humble. People really can relate to that, and they want to get behind that. I think we’ve had great role models for women, but I think Caitlin’s popularity took it to a whole other level.”
It also had to do with her loyalty to her hometown team. Clark, who grew up in Des Moines, chose Iowa over other potential college destinations, including Notre Dame (which she originally committed to).
She played in the time of name, image, and likeness and in an era where players could transfer freely as many times as they wanted. Surely, Clark had interest from some of the women’s basketball blue bloods. Through all the fame and sponsorship deals, that was never something she considered. She wanted to be successful, but not without her hometown Hawkeyes.
“That’s not Caitlin,” Bluder said. “Caitlin is a loyal Iowan, and it never entered my mind that she would leave, never. And we never had that discussion. I just don’t even think it was on the radar. I just think that would have hurt her brand a little bit, but I don’t think that’s why she did what she did (in staying). She really enjoyed playing in Carver, being a Hawkeye, and representing our state.”
Now, Hawkeye fans are rewarding the loyal Iowan and two-time National Player of the Year with a sold-out WNBA game at her alma mater.
Bluder, who is returning from an international vacation on Saturday, is making sure she gets back in time to see her, too.
“I mean, it sold out in 45 minutes,” Bluder said. “That’s how much enthusiasm there is to watch Caitlin playing again in Carver.”
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Rep. Randy Feenstra on the budget, Pete Hegseth, and Governor rumors
Rep. Randy Feenstra talks about the budget, Pete Hegseth, and a possible run for Governor during a tour of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra has launched an exploratory committee as he signals strong interest in running for governor of Iowa in 2026.
“Since Governor (Kim) Reynolds announced her decision not to seek re-election, Iowans from every corner of the state and walk of life have asked me to run,” he said in a statement Tuesday, May 13. “The outpouring of encouragement and my desire to continue giving back to our great state has brought me to today’s announcement. I want to thank Governor Reynolds for her strong, conservative leadership for Iowa.”
Feenstra is in his third term representing Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, which spans 36 counties in northwest Iowa and along the full western edge of the state. It is, by far, the state’s most conservative congressional district, which could give him an edge with likely Republican primary voters.
He won the seat in 2020 after ousting longtime U.S. Rep. Steve King in a Republican primary. And he handily won reelection in 2022 and 2024 as an incumbent.
Feenstra filed the paperwork necessary for a gubernatorial campaign May 12 with Iowa’s Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
In a release, he touted his commitment to supporting Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda.
“I’ve stood with President Trump and fought against Joe Biden’s radical policies,” he said in a statement. “I’ve led the fight to stop Communist China from buying our farmland and backed President Trump every step of the way as we’ve secured the border. I’m fighting every day to renew the Trump Tax Cuts, protect the family budget, and support our main street businesses. As governor, I will stand with President Trump, defeat the left, and help usher in America’s next golden age.”
He said he will begin raising money and having conversations with Iowans around the state.
If Feenstra does enter the race, he would do so with a strong financial advantage. He’s legally allowed to transfer the money from his congressional fundraising accounts into a state campaign for governor. He reported ending the last quarter with about $1.6 million in cash on hand that could help seed a gubernatorial campaign.
The seat opened after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds made a surprise announcement in April that she would not seek reelection in 2026.
Former Republican state Rep. Brad Sherman had said prior to Reynolds’ announcement that he would run for governor.
Multiple other Republicans have signaled their interest in the race since Reynolds’ announcement. They include Attorney General Brenna Bird, state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, state Sen. Mike Bousselot, House Speaker Pat Grassley and state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann. Bousselot has also launched a formal exploratory committee.
Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand announced May 12 he would seek his party’s nomination.
Sand also enters the race with a sizeable financial advantage. He announced at the end of last year he had raised more than $8 million. And he announced May 13 that his campaign had raised $2.25 million in his campaign’s first 24 hours.
Democrats sought to undermine Feenstra’s potential candidacy after news broke that he had filed paperwork with the state.
“Whether in Washington or Des Moines, Congressman Randy Feenstra has been a reliable foot soldier for the misguided partisans and insiders ruining our state,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. “Meanwhile, Iowa is now 49th in economic growth and losing manufacturing jobs while Rep. Feenstra has failed to deliver a farm bill, voted to gut Medicaid, and supported Iowa’s unaccountable voucher program that’s jeopardizing Iowa’s fiscal budget. We need a new direction and Randy Feenstra is just more of the same failed leadership.”
Feenstra is scheduled to hold his annual fundraiser, the Feenstra Family Picnic, May 30 in Sioux Center alongside U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
May 12, 2025
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across Iowa to support the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Click It. Don’t Risk It. high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, is May 19-June 1, 2025.
It is perceived everyone wears a seat belt, but data shows that’s not true. In 2024, 44% of traffic fatalities in Iowa were unbuckled; that translates to 108 lives lost. In a GTSB survey of over 1,450 Iowans, 88% reported always buckling up in the front seat. Only 67% always buckle in the back seat.
“No matter the type of vehicle you’re traveling in, where you’re seated, or what type of road you’re driving on, the best way to protect yourself in a crash is to buckle up,” says Brett Tjepkes, Iowa GTSB Bureau Chief. “Unfortunately, many families are suffering because their loved ones did not follow this simple step. If this enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers not buckling up, we’ll consider the mission a success.”
If you know a friend or a family member who does not wear a seat belt, please talk to them about changing their habits. Help GTSB and law enforcement spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to be properly restrained when traveling.
GTSB works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads using federally funded grants.
Click It. Don’t Risk It. campaign resources
ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state. It includes seven divisions and several bureaus, all working together with local, state, and federal government agencies and the private sector to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership, integrity, professionalism, courtesy, service, and protection. Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Professional Development and Support Services Division, and Administrative Services Division. The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor.
Iowa Department of Public Safety
215 E. 7th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
https://dps.iowa.gov
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