The University of Iowa announced it will retire former star Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey on Feb. 2 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes will face USC that day, and Clark will be in attendance.
“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 statement. “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.”
Clark finished her college career as the all-time leading scorer in women’s and men’s Division I history, with 3,951 points.
As a senior last season, Clark broke the record set by Washington’s Kelsey Plum to become the women’s NCAA Division I scoring leader, then passed AIAW star Lynette Woodard of Kansas for the major college women’s record and LSU’s Pete Maravich, who holds the Division I men’s scoring record.
Clark led Iowa to back-to-back national championship games and three Big Ten tournament titles. She was consensus national player of the year as a junior and senior.
Clark was named Time Athlete of the Year, but has drawn criticism for her interview in the publication, hinting at “white privilege.”
In her Time interview, Clark had said: “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them.”
Clark was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. She was WNBA Rookie of the Year and helped the Fever make their first playoff appearance since 2016.
“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 athletic director Beth Goetz said. “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.”
For anyone looking to score a seat at the ceremony, SeatGeek is reporting ticket prices starting at over $400 per ticket just for that game.