The Daily Iowan
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL
PREGAME CAITLIN CLARK’S HOMECOMING
The Caitlin Clark Effect is returning to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4.
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1. Caitlin Clark’s return to Carver
This game would not exist without the remarkable achievements of Caitlin Clark. Clark played for the Iowa women’s basketball team from 2020-24, becoming one of the most recognizable athletes in the world in the process. Before Clark’s arrival, the Hawkeyes often played in front of sparse crowds inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but her play resulted in Iowa selling out each home game during Clark’s senior season in 2023-24, a first for the program. After reaching the NCAA title game in 2023, Clark entered her senior campaign determined to reach the mountaintop. She led the Hawkeyes to a program-record 34 victories while posting 31.6 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per contest. Though Iowa again fell short in the national title game against South Carolina, Clark more than made her mark on not only Hawkeye women’s basketball, but also the entire sport.
Clark will have the chance to play
The Fever looks to give Clark
in front of a raucous sell-out crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
2. A new-look Fever
Indiana ended an eight-year play off drought in 2024, in part due to Clark’s play late in the year. Though they qualified for the postseason, the Fever still posted a mediocre 20-20 record. Wanting to capitalize on their growing popularity that came with Clark’s arrival, Indiana fired head coach Christie Sides and replaced her with Connecticut Sun Coach Stephanie White.
De Olivera, who led the squad in scoring through three games at the 2026 FIBA world cup qualifying round contests in August. De Olivera posted 17. 7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, but her efforts were for naught as Brazil went only 1-2 in those games, including a 87-66 drubbing at the hands of Hungary.
White, who is from Indiana, won Indiana Miss Basketball in 1995 and played for Purdue from 1995-99. She previously coached the Fever for two seasons before leaving for the college ranks at Vanderbilt. Now, she returns to her home state with the hopes of continuing Indiana’s resurgence into WNBA contention.
In addition to adding White, the Fever have also been aggressive in free agency and in the trade market. Notable signings include six-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner, two-time All-Star Natasha Howard, and veteran guard Sophie Cunningham via a trade with the Phoenix Mercury.
3. Emanuely de Olivera
Arguably the most important player for the Brazilians is power
Brazil will have to find scoring outside of de Olivera if they want to spoil this party, but expect de Olviera to make things difficult inside for Indiana.
4. The WNBA taking notice
ketball history at both the college and high school ranks. The crowd inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena will likely be roaring throughout the game, and the level of support could potentially catch the eye of WNBA executives. The league has already added two teams, but they may consider adding another to make things even.
5. A full-circle moment for Dantas
The chances of this happening may be slim, but Clark’s arrival to the WNBA has resulted in increased support for the league throughout the state of Iowa, with many fans going as far to make long treks to Indianapolis to watch Clark and the Fever.
That enthusiasm has led some to believe that the WNBA could potentially expand to Iowa. The evidence? This exhibition game sold out within minutes, a sign of how passionate the state is about Clark and women’s basketball. Outsiders may argue the whole fandom is recent, but Iowa
This game will serve as a bit of a full circle moment for Fever center Damiris Dantas, a Brazil native who previously played on the Brazilian National Team early in her career. Dantas helped the squad to a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games and was also a member of the team that captured the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Women.
Dantas was drafted No. 12 overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2012 and has played for three WNBA teams since, including six non-consecutive seasons in Minnesota. Dantas signed with the Fever ahead of the 2024 season and played in 20 games, posting 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest.
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
Fans observe a women’s basketball game between Iowa and then-No. 4 Southern California at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 2. The sold-out Indiana Fever game is at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4.
Clark
De Olivera
Dantas
Caitlin Clark returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
No. 22’s return reflects her impact on the women’s basketball landscape as a whole.
Chris Meglio Sports Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
Iowa fans certainly miss the Caitlin Clark show. And on May 4, this show returns to Iowa City one more time.
The phenom from West Des Moines, Iowa, had hoop dreams since childhood. Her “Future Dreams” worksheet from second grade featured several basketball goals such as earning a basketball scholarship, meeting Maya Moore, and getting into the WNBA.
She did all those things.
Nowhere on that paper did it say she wanted to uplift an entire sport and captivate the next generation of women hoopers. But she’s doing that, too.
When the Indiana Fever take on the Brazilian National Team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4, she’ll be reminded of that.
“I always had big dreams and big aspirations ever since I was a young kid,” Clark told David Letterman during a recent appearance on his Netflix special “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.” “I don’t think you could ever really imagine it to be on this level. I think I kind of exceeded my expectations.”
Clark grew up around the game of basketball. She started off tagging along with her older brother, Blake’s, practices, where her dad, Brent, was the coach. And when she started playing at five years old, there were no girls leagues around, so she played on her dad’s team along with her younger brother, Colin.
Her skills were pretty glaring early on.
“She literally, I would say, would score quite a few goals in soccer and in the same way with basketball,” Brent said in the “Her” documentary about Clark’s impact on women’s basketball. “She would pull up from the free throw line on a six- or seven-foot hoop and make it pretty consistently.”
There were never enough hoops on the court for her, though. She always wanted to play with Blake and his friends at home, though she was often physically outmatched. Her mom Anne’s advice to her: “If you want to play with them, you’ve got to find a way to hold your own.”
And so she found a way — not just against her brother but against all boys. She began to dominate the boys league through her last few years and even won the league MVP one season.
“I played against [Clark] in games when we were in the first or second grade,” former
Iowa men’s basketball player and Waukee, Iowa, native Payton Sandfort recalled in February of 2024 via Eliot Clough of Rivals.
“It wasn’t fun. I think we got the best of her when we were younger, and then she started to get better.
“I remember she [beat] us in the semifinal in the tournament,” he added. “I was just devastated.”
She first started playing against other girls on the All Iowa Attack AAU team as a sixth grader, playing several years ahead of her age group, and she still dominated. Her first letter of interest came from Missouri State ahead of
“I always had big dreams and big aspirations ever since I was a young kid. I don’t think you could ever really imagine it to be on this level. I think I kind of exceeded my expectations .”
Caitlin Clark
Indiana Fever guard on a David Letterman Netflix special
the seventh grade.
And by the time she got to Dowling Catholic High School in 2016, she was a five-star prospect balancing varsity basketball and soccer through her first two years. Her focus was fixated on basketball, so much that she used to
shoot around right before soccer games. Her teammates weren’t too fond of that.
Offers from several Power Five schools began to flow in. She eventually cut her list down to three schools: Iowa, Iowa State, and Notre Dame. And while she first verbally
Ayrton Breckenridge | The Daily Iowan
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates during an NCAA Tournament Second Round game between then-No. 1 Iowa and then-No. 8 West Virginia at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on March 25, 2024. The Hawkeyes defeated the Mountaineers, 64-54.
Sandfort
committed to the Fighting Irish, she flipped to Iowa with an official announcement on social media ahead of her senior season.
Upon her commitment, she made a promise to then-head coach Lisa Bluder and the Hawkeye faithful: Bring Iowa back to the Final Four.
“She loves seeking challenges,” Clark’s former high school coach Kristin Meyer said. “She wants to go after those challenges. And she just loves the excitement of achieving a challenge or overcoming the odds.”
Her collegiate career began in 2020 in front of zero fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And with that, her historic freshman season nearly went unnoticed.
In 30 games played, Clark led the country in scoring with 26.6 points along with 7.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds on her way to being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She became the first freshman ever to win the Dawn Staley Award, given to the best guard in the country. The Hawkeyes lost to UConn in the Sweet 16 of the 2021
NCAA tournament.
She took a step up in her sophomore season, and her 46-point explosion against Michigan was the birth of a collegiate superstar.
On Feb. 6, 2022, in a road game in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Clark scored 33 points through the last 13 minutes, 21 points in the last six minutes, carrying the team from a 22-point deficit to a five-point contest.
“And still lost,” she joked with Letterman. Michigan took the victory, 98-90. But that game will forever be known as the “Caitlin Clark game.”
“I remember we didn’t have everybody active that game, but Coach Bluder wasn’t even that mad that we didn’t win,” Clark said. “She was staring at the TV [at the airport] like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ Everyone was just kind of in awe.”
Her 2021-22 campaign concluded with another Dawn Staley Award and her first Big Ten Player of the Year award after posting averages of 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists across 32 games.
Iowa went on to win the Big Ten tournament for the first time since 2019 and placed as a second seed in the NCAA tournament; however, a 64-62 devastating second-round loss to No. 10 Creighton cut the Final Four aspirations in half.
“From your greatest failures can come your greatest successes,” Clark said of the 2022 NCAA tournament loss via Dargan Southard of the Des Moines Register . “We thought we were going to get to the Final Four.”
Then came her junior season — the year Clark became a global icon. She won the 2022-23 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year and the Wooden Award after averaging 27.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.1 rebounds and led Iowa to a then-programbest 31 wins.
Every game was nearly sold out. Her iconic No. 22 jersey filled up the stands, home or away. She was the face of college basketball, and all eyes were fixed on her.
A year after the tragic upset to Creighton, Clark made good on her promise and led No. 2 Iowa back to the Final Four for the first time since 1993. There, the Hawkeyes matched up with the defending champion South Carolina.
The Hawkeyes went in as heavy underdogs. But No. 22 put on her cape and saved the day with a 41-point performance to lead Iowa to the 77-73 victory and the program’s first-ever national championship appearance.
“She was on point,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said of Clark after the Final Four matchup via Hawk Fanatic. “I mean, she was everything that we saw on
Gabby Drees | The Daily Iowan
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark and head coach Lisa Bluder hug after a basketball game between then-No. 2 Iowa and then-No. 5 Indiana during the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 6, 2022. Iowa took home the Big Ten
Daniel McGregor-Huyer | The Daily Iowan
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark attempts shot during a 2023 NCAA women’s Final Four game between then-No. 1 South Carolina and then-No. 2 Iowa at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, on March 31, 2023. Clark scored 41 points.
Bluder
Staley
film. She was everything, like assists, points, turnovers, all of them. She ran the gamut of who she is as a player.”
She put up a 30-piece in the national championship game against Angel Reese and LSU, but it wasn’t enough to get over the hump. The Tigers took the 102-85 victory in front of a then-women’s col lege basketball record of 16.1 million viewers.
dreams. And it only got stronger in her final year with Iowa.
Clark went into the 2023-24 season as an all-time great women’s college basketball player. By the end of the season, she had arguably the greatest collegiate basketball career of all time.
“I’m telling you this is brutal. It is really tough to walk out of that locker room today,” an emotional Bluder said. “But I am very thankful for the season we had, and I don’t want anything to take away from that. We played in the national championship game.”
With tears streaming down her face and a Gatorade towel wrapped around her neck, Clark, as vulnerable as the public had ever seen her, made it clear what kind of impact she hopes to have on the game of basketball.
“I want my legacy to be the impact that I can have on young kids and people in the state of Iowa,” she said. “I was just that young girl, so all you have to do is dream, and you can be in moments like this.”
At that point, the impact she made on the sport was already beyond her wildest
Per game, she posted 31.6 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds as the Hawkeyes logged a newprogram record of 34 wins. And with her sec ond Naismith Player of the Year honor, Clark became the eighth player to win the award twice, the first since Brittney Griner in 2012 and 2013.
Many prestigious scoring records were broken throughout that season. Her 2,813th point passed Megan Gustafson to become Iowa’s all-time leading scorer; her 3,528th point passed Kelsey Plum to become wom en’s college basketball’s all-time leading scorer; and her 3,668th point passed Pete Maravich to become college basketball’s all-time leading scorer.
Clark was nicknamed “Ponytail Pete” due to ther resemblance to Maravich in her game. But nobody could’ve predicted her passing the LSU legend. Not even the
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
The crowd cheers as Caitlin Clark scores a three-point basket to make her the NCAA record holder for points during a basketball game between No. 4 Iowa and Michigan at Carver Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 15, 2024. The previous record was held by Washington’s Kelsey Plum.
Reese
Maravich
Griner
ana struggled out of the gate. The team got off to a 1-8 start to the season and were sitting at the bottom of the WNBA standings; however, Clark showed flashes of superstar potential.
In her very first professional game, she put up 20 points on the Connecticut Sun in a 92-71 losing effort. And in her sixth game against the Los Angeles Sparks, she led the Fever to a 78-73 win behind a near triple-double of 11 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, along with four steals.
“Obviously, it was a big adjustment going from the college level to the professional level,” she said. “There’s a lot of areas you have to learn and that you have to learn very quickly.”
It wasn’t until the 12th game of the season — a 85-83 win over the Washington Mystics — when the Fever took off, going 19-12 the rest of the way to earn the sixth seed in the 2024 Playoffs.
The rookie guard put up a 19-point, 13-assist, 12-rebound triple-double on Sabrina Ionescu, Brianna Stewart, and the eventual 2024 WNBA Champion New York Liberty in an 83-78 midseason win. And in a 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings the following week, her 19-assist game broke the league record for most assists in a game.
Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game through the regular season — her 337 total assists being a single-season record. She ran away with the Rookie of the Year award, was named a First Team All-WNBA member, and finished fourth in MVP voting.
“I feel like I can continue to show up and be the same person that I am,” she said. “And then as a player, just continuing to improve every single day and help this organization get even better.”
freshman high school teacher who once told her, “You are Pete Maravich.”
“Honestly, it wasn’t something I ever really thought about too much,” Clark told Rowe of the scoring records. “It’s just something that’s come with my four years of playing basketball and being myself.
“I’ve just been so fortunate to have a coach that has allowed me to be me,” she added. “Ever since I stepped foot on campus, she believed in me so much, and she never said, ‘Do this,’ or, ‘Don’t do that.’ It was more like, ‘Be yourself.’”
Earning a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, Clark and Co. put together one of the most memorable runs in recent tournament history. The Hawkeyes made it to the Sweet Sixteen and got their revenge on LSU with a 94-87 victory.
Then came Paige Bueckers and UConn. In a Final Four thriller that came down to the very last second, Clark’s 21-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist performance helped Iowa come out with the 71-69 victory, setting up a rematch with South Carolina for the title.
This time, the Gamecocks got the best of them. Clark’s 30-point performance wasn’t enough, and Iowa suffered the 87-75 loss. Teary-eyed and all, she walked off the court wearing her Black and Gold cape for the final time.
Her impact on the game during her time at Iowa, however, will remain forever.
“I just want to congratulate Iowa on an incredible season, and I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,”
Staley said during the trophy presentation.
“She carried a heavy load for our sport, and it’s not going to stop here at the collegiate tour. But when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well.
“Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATs of our game,” she added.
And she was right. Because Clark is one of the greatest collegiate players of all-time. And with the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever selected the NCAA all-time leading scorer. Truly a franchise-altering moment from the jump.
Well, sort of.
When Clark declared for the draft in late-February 2024, the Fever saw an immediate increase in activity across all social media pages, and tickets doubled in price with fans anticipating she’d be the first overall pick. The “Caitlin Clark Effect” was in full throttle.
The season finally came around, and Indi-
“Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATs of our game .”
Dawn Staley South Carolina head coach
But it was her impact off the court that really stood out. The Fever averaged 4,066 fans per home game in 2023, the second-lowest in the league, and skyrocketed to to 17,035 fans per contest, the next closest team being the New York Liberty with 12,729 fans. And their average road attendance of 15,131 fans exceeded every other team’s home attendance.
There were six teams that moved their games against Indiana to bigger arenas. There were also six teams that finished with an average of at least 10,000 fans at home. No team reached five-figure averages in 2023.
The league’s viewership grew by over 100 percent across all streaming platforms. Its 54 million unique viewers was a league-record.
“We can’t put a bushel-barrel over this flame,” Bluder told Letterman. “You don’t say ‘whoa’ to a racehorse. You got to let her go. There is a fine line you have to walk when you’re coaching a player like her.”
At the end of the day, basketball is a show business. And there’s no show that draws an audience like the Caitlin Clark show.
One last show in Iowa City.
Grace Smith | The Daily Iowan
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates after the senior recognition during a basketball game with No. 6 Iowa and No. 2 Ohio State inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on March 3, 2024. Clark broke the all-time NCAA record during this game, which was previously held by Pete Maravich.
Excitement builds anticipating the return
Fans are ready for Caitlin Clark the Indiana Fever’s upcoming exhibition game in Iowa City.
Jack Birmingham Sports Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
A number of Iowa fans never saw the Caitlin Clark experience live, but after a full year since her departure to the WNBA, May 4 will change that.
Only a select few of Hawkeye faithful secured tickets to the Indiana Fever exhibition game against the Brazilian National Team, hosted at Iowa’s own Carver-Hawkeye Arena. And they’re in for one more look at what No. 22’s impact on Iowa City was really like.
Such a contest, which was announced on Jan. 30 in news releases by both the Fever and HawkeyeSports, will mark the return of legendary Hawkeye Caitlin Clark, who was selected by the Fever as the No. 1 draft pick last year, kicking
off a record-breaking rookie season in the pros. Clark, of course, became hugely popular for her unique deep shooting ability and equally flashy passes, fueling a career that led Iowa, then coached by Lisa Bluder, to the national championship game in back-to-back seasons. This meant when Clark’s homecoming was announced, fans were eager to get tickets, which sold out to the general public within 37 minutes of release.
For students, pricing and access had less barriers but were nevertheless gratifying to procure. In particular, current first-years at Iowa who haven’t been at Iowa for a full season of Caitlin Clark expressed excitement at getting to see the superstar play.
First-year students Brielle Major and Chase Nunemaker both bought tickets to the exhibition, both noting Clark as a key reason for
doing so.
“Freshmen like us, we didn’t get to see Caitlin Clark,” Major said. “I feel like that’s the main reason why we’re so excited to go, is because we never got to see her.”
“Freshmen like us, we didn’t get to see Caitlin Clark. I feel like that’s the main reason why we’re so excited to go.”
Brielle Major UI first-year student
Nunemaker said even for those who have seen Clark play at Carver, the impact of her return is going to be big.
“I think it’s not only Caitlin Clark, but it mostly is because this is where she came from,” Nunemaker said. “The people that got to watch her in college get to see her again because she’s probably never going to play at Carver again.”
Nunemaker also said the contest is just a more recent example of Clark putting the WNBA, and indeed women’s sports as a whole, at the front of people’s minds.
“This is a really special opportunity, but it’s also a good way to promote the WNBA,” Nunemaker said. “I haven’t watched a WNBA game, but because I am a Caitlin Clark fan and Iowa fan, I want to see her play, especially at Carver, compared to driving down and seeing her play at her home stadium. So, I think this is a good opportunity for everybody to get recognized.”
Major said just the presence of Clark, regardless of whether there’s a game going or not, is enough to keep fans energized. Her jersey retirement after Iowa’s game against USC this season is a prime example.
“I think it’ll be really loud,” Major said. “Whenever she was there, people were just loud overall knowing that she was in the building, not even because she was playing. The minute she came out, the place got so loud.”
While Nunemaker and Major both noted the relative ease of getting tickets and pricing around $75, the same cannot be said for general admission tickets, which, upon selling out in just over half an hour, began being listed on resell websites like StubHub for up to $1,600.
Nunemaker ultimately said Clark has made a big impact with the Fever game being a great example of this.
“We went to almost every single women’s home game, and it was crazy,” Nunemaker said. “Especially the USC game when Caitlin Clark was there. I think that game was as loud or louder than some of the football games. I think this game is going to be even louder. If Caitlin Clark makes a deep three again, I think the place is going to erupt.”
With exhibition games like the one set for May 4 few and far between, many are looking forward to what could be Clark’s final showing at Carver, an encore performance kicking off what could be a monumental second season as a pro.
“Everybody’s going to be so excited to see her again,” Nunemaker said. “I think this is really huge for Caitlin Clark because she gets to play here one more time.”
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Ruby Bekkedahl, Lauren Duet, and Addy Auer Billings, from Montana, pose for a portrait before a basketball game between No. 11 Iowa and No. 6 Michigan State at the TIAA Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. on March 6.
INDIANA FEVER 2025 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Tanner Henningsen
• Fourth-year
• Interdepartmental studies
Brad Schultz Assistant Sports Editor brad.schultz@dailyiowan.com
The Daily Iowan your most memorable game as a student manager?
Tanner Henningsen: I can’t pick just one game, but the first ones that come to mind are Caitlin’s buzzer -beater against Indiana in 2023, beating South Carolina in the Final Four in 2023, beating LSU in the Elite Eight in 2024, and beating USC on CC’s jersey retirement night in 2025. There are so many other great ones, but those ones really stand out.
Women’s basketball student managers talk Clark era
ment, Carver was electric — unlike anything I had experienced before. Playing in front of a loud, sold-out crowd gave our team the energy we needed to pull off a hard-fought win against one of the best teams in the country. The joy on the faces of the players and coaching staff was unforgettable, and it was incredibly rewarding to see them have a moment like that after all the day-to-day work that often goes unnoticed.
What does an event like the Indiana Fever’s exhibition game mean for the University of Iowa?
team had on women’s basketball. The immediate sellout was an indication of the fanbase that remains here at Iowa and supports women’s basketball like no other. It celebrates the success of former players and reinforces the school’s reputation as a leader in women’s basketball. Overall, it’s a moment of pride for the university and a celebration of how far the program has come.
How significant is it to see Caitlin Clark come back and play a game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena?
on a show for the fans who haven’t seen her play in months.
Riedl: It’s going to be incredible; the support she has here is unbelievable, and the entirety of Carver is going to be a sea of Clark jerseys. I wouldn’t be surprised if Caitlin puts up some big-time numbers in a gym she’s familiar with and with the crowd behind her. It’s a full-circle moment for for the university and all the fans and a reminder of how much she means to the University of Iowa.
Matthew Riedl: There were a lot of memorable games during my year as a student manager, but without a doubt, the win over a top-ranked USC team tops the list. With CC22 in the building for her jersey retire-
Henningsen: It’s huge. Everyone who knows the Fever knows Iowa, but getting some people from Indiana to come over to see Iowa City will be great. It’s also a great recruiting tool, not just for women’s basketball but for all sports at Iowa. Riedl: I think it’s really cool and speaks to the impact Caitlin and the rest of that
Henningsen: It’s going to be electric. It’ll be interesting seeing her playing in CHA with a completely new group of teammates from the ones she had in college, but hopefully the fans treat them like Hawks and show them what it’s like to play in front of a sold-out Iowa crowd on a nightly basis. I’m sure she’ll hit some logo threes and put
Read more online
The Daily Iowan talked with the women’s basketball student managers for a few minutes. Catch the full interview and their responses at dailyiowan.com.
A guide to maximizing the Caitlin Clark return
The
Iowa icon returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for an exhibition on May 4.
Colin Votzmeyer Sports Editor colin.votzmeyer@dailyiowan.com
As Caitlin Clark makes her coveted return to Iowa City, thousands of Iowa fans will, too — and there’s a method to maximizing the experience. Clark, the former Iowa women’s basketball player who led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back NCAA runner-up titles, has impacted the sport on all levels. And she’ll continue to do so after a stellar rookie season in the WNBA, joining the Indiana Fever to kick off her sophomore campaign in an unconventional exhibition on May 4.
Tipping off at 12:30 p.m. against the Brazil National Team inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the exhibition will bring thousands of Hawkeye fans back to Iowa City to get a unique glimpse of the star a year after her departure from the program. With that, many will come without ever having seen No. 22 in action. But there are hotspots in town to maxmize it all.
Before the game
Bluebird Diner is a flawless breakfast
option if you can squeeze in, but a table is tough to secure in the morning due to high demand, limited seating, and a rule you can only put your name down in person. But Bluebird does have the best breakfast and brunch in Iowa City with a staple environment, especially at the bar. I’d recommend the Bluebird Breggfest Sammy and a cinnamon roll, but whatever you order, find a way to get their hash browns on your plate.
If you’re taking a more serious approach to the pregame, tailgating is always an option for big events in Iowa City athletics — especially assuming we get that peak early
Iowa City’s top five must-visit spots
A curated guide to the city’s most iconic, fun, and unforgettable places to eat.
May weather.
Micky’s Irish Pub is also a good spot, and it will be for lunch, dinner, and drinks. The restaurant on Dubuque Street serves breakfast, but you could push it up against tip-off and tap into a flexible lunch menu with a Burger Basket or Conglomeration. It’s a great “Iowa City bar” environment to have a few beers or a mule with the added bonus of not being oversaturated by college kids.
During the game
If you somehow survived the lottery and resale scrambles to secure a ticket, that’s where you’ve got to take the most advantage. Seeing Clark in person is a difficult feat with demand so high over her two-year peak, so the generic answer is to get a Carver Cone and just enjoy the game. But to truly maximize the Caitlin Clark experience takes a bit more.
To truly soak in a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Caitlin Clark environment, get down around the floor before or after the game. Easy access and open space around the court — that not a lot of college environments allow — make for both good pictures and a realistic look at the magnitude of No. 22’s impact. A walk up the tunnel in the northwest corner between timeouts does the same.
If you didn’t secure a ticket,
and not many did, the game will be broadcast on FOX.
The best places to catch a sports game in Iowa City are always DC’s Sports Bar and the classic option of Micky’s.
But a sunny Sunday around campus might make simply sitting outside and enjoying the weather the best pick above all.
After the game
There’s something for everyone in Iowa City’s nightlife even on a Sunday evening.
College students often keep the sports vibe going with dollar slices of pizza and an array of TVs at The Airliner. But a
good casual sit-down spot is The Iowa Chop House on Washington Street if you’re willing to spend a bit more money, which would justify the filet mignon. But if you’re hitting the road right after the game, a quick pick-up from the grill at Bread Garden Market will do. From the burger to the burrito, Bread Garden is a sleeper food spot in town. Of course, there’s always the opportunity to come back as Iowa women’s basketball starts back up in November. But to see Caitlin Clark again, the Fever open the WNBA season hosting the Chicago Sky on May 17, and then they will play in Chicago — just three hours from Iowa City.
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan Iowa fans watch the NCAA Championship game between No. 1 Iowa and No. 1 South Carolina at The Airliner on April 7, 2024.
Photo illustration by Marandah Mangra-Dutcher | The Daily Iowan
