IOWA CITY, Iowa — For Kylie Feuerbach, Caitlin Clark will always hold a special place as a teammate, regardless of where her journey leads her—be it attending concerts or mingling with celebrities at NFL games.
Feuerbach, a senior guard for the Hawkeyes, expressed her amusement with Clark’s rising fame during a recent interview. “It’s wild to think about—it’s something we chat about frequently. We know her as a friend and teammate, and only when you see her in the news or on social media do you grasp the magnitude of where she is now,” she stated. “The attention she receives is well-deserved; her dedication and hard work have truly paid off.”
Clark is making a return to the arena where she set records as the leading scorer across all men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball. She has also played a crucial role in guiding the Hawkeyes to the national championship game for the past two seasons, securing the national player of the year honors twice. A ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday will see her jersey number 22 retired following Iowa’s matchup against No. 4 USC.
This marks the first season without Clark for the Hawkeyes, a challenge that head coach Jan Jensen described as “unique.” Under Jensen, who took over after Lisa Bluder’s retirement, the team has seen mixed success, currently holding a 14-7 overall record and 4-6 in Big Ten play. Although they started the season strong with a 12-2 record and a spot in The Associated Press Top 25, a five-game losing streak has hampered their chances for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Jensen reflected on the challenges of this season, which has seen the team lose several key players, including Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Sharon Goodman, and Molly Davis from last season’s lineup that faced South Carolina in the national finals. “We’re navigating a lot of new experiences, a lot of firsts,” she noted. “It’s been an adjustment without such significant figures on the team, including the coaching staff.”
Sunday’s game is set to draw a full house, continuing a streak of sold-out public season tickets. Even without Clark, the energy surrounding the game remains high, with the team accustomed to the media attention that has surrounded them in recent seasons.
Guard Sydney Affolter commented on the situation, “Playing in front of a packed crowd is something we’re used to, so we just focus on our game. Sure, there might be external distractions, but we want to leverage the crowd’s energy to gain the upper hand against USC.”
The Hawkeyes come into the game with two consecutive wins and will wrap up the regular season with tough matchups against USC, the top-ranked UCLA team, and a road contest against No. 8 Ohio State.
“Our mindset has been the same every day, and that’s what has unified us,” Feuerbach said. “We’ve leaned on each other, trusted our preparation, and believed, as Coach J would say, that our goals were within reach.”
Earlier this season, Clark made a quiet appearance at a game on November 17 against Drake. “I had no idea she was there until after the game,” Feuerbach shared with a laugh. Should Clark be present on Sunday, her former teammates are prepared to feel her exuberance—similar to when she played.
Feuerbach remarked, “Caitlin brings a unique energy wherever she goes. Her vibrant personality can change the atmosphere in any room.”
The transformation of Clark from a star high school recruit to an “A-lister,” as described by Jensen, has been exhilarating to observe. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of her journey,” Jensen reflected. “She will always be a part of our history, just like Michael Jordan will always represent Carolina blue; Caitlin is forever Hawkeye black and gold.”
