'It sold out in 45 minutes.' Iowa can't wait to celebrate Caitlin Clark homecoming
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.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
44 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Gymnast who sparked abuse inquiry into coach at elite US academy says she 'needed to speak out'
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Recalling the damage her now-arrested coach inflicted on her and many of her gymnast friends, Finley Weldon said she feels a sense of pride. Free from the grip that Sean Gardner had during her years of training at an Iowa academy known for producing Olympians, Weldon told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that she is among the few who survived his abuse and are still in the sport.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Ohio State assistant deals devastating blow to Buckeyes as nation's top recruit opts for biggest rival
Former Ohio State assistant deals devastating blow to Buckeyes as nation's top recruit opts for biggest rival originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes didn't feel like favorites for five-star top running back Savion Hiter, but the worst-case scenario was even more painful than simply missing on him. Hiter was considering Tennessee, Georgia, and the Buckeyes, but ended up committing to Michigan on Tuesday morning. The 2026 superstar will now pair with Bryce Underwood in the Wolverines' backfield next fall. The Virginia tailback stands 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. He made his announcement live on YouTube, citing Michigan's history as a major reason for his decision. Given Ohio State's more recent success and ability to produce NFL running backs, this was a head-scratching decision in that light. 'Michigan has a lot of tradition and history of winning, and the running backs run similar plays to what I'm used to, so I could definitely see myself in that offense,' Hiter said. View the to see embedded media. Former Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford is who pulled Hiter, making this an even more difficult pill to swallow. Alford took a lateral job to Michigan last year, leading to Ohio State replacing him with Oregon's Carlos Locklyn. 'Coach Alford he's a great coach,' Hiter has said. 'He knows how to coach em right. He has a great relationship with all his running backs. (Alford) knows how to coach em up. Watch our breakdown on Hiter here. Here's Rivals' Director of Scouting Charles Power's scouting report on Hiter:'Gifted runner with an advanced blend of athleticism, fluidity, and instincts as a high school underclassman. Physically developed, measuring in at over 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an 11.11 second mark in the 100-meters as a freshman. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump – an outstanding mark.'Turned multiple dominant seasons as a high school underclassman, including a 1,698-yard, 26-touchdown junior campaign that saw him run for 10.8 yards per carry. Looks to be a natural runner. An extremely fluid and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent acceleration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts. A strong tackle-breaker who runs through contact due to a strong leg drive.' This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gymnast who sparked abuse inquiry into coach at elite US academy says she 'needed to speak out'
Gymnastics Abuse Inquiry IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Recalling the damage her now-arrested coach inflicted on her and many of her gymnast friends, Finley Weldon said she feels a sense of pride. Free from the grip that Sean Gardner had during her years of training at an Iowa academy known for producing Olympians, Weldon told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that she is among the few who survived his abuse and are still in the sport. The 18-year-old is heading into her freshman year at Iowa State University, where she'll be a member of the Cyclones gymnastics team. She spoke with the AP on Wednesday, less than a week after Gardner was arrested on a child sexual exploitation charge. 'I didn't want him to take away anything from me, especially something that I love,' she said. 'None of the girls that I started with or went through the things that I did with Sean are still doing gymnastics today. So that's something I'm very proud of.' She's also happy she's made a difference, in the same way gymnasts she admires — like Aly Raisman, an Olympian whose visceral accounts of abuse by Larry Nassar shined a spotlight on the trauma gymnasts went through and how authorities failed to curb it. The AP generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse, but Weldon said she wanted 'my name out there because I was the one who did come forward.' 'I felt like I needed to speak out to stop it from happening to other little girls, so they didn't have to go through what I went through,' Weldon said. 'I knew it would just be a continuous cycle if nobody did.' Gymnasts reported abuse to watchdog in 2022 The FBI said Tuesday it believes Gardner 'targeted children' while coaching at Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, and gyms in Mississippi and Louisiana where he worked dating back to 2004. Gardner, 38, didn't return AP messages left on his cellphone before his arrest, and has not entered a plea to the charge. A public defender who represented him after his arrest hasn't returned messages. Another former gymnast at Chow's, the academy known for producing Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas, first reported sexual abuse allegations against Gardner to the U.S. Center for SafeSport in March 2022, alleging he fondled her during training sessions, according to an FBI affidavit. That girl provided the names of six other of Gardner's potential victims, according to the affidavit. Weldon said she spoke with a SafeSport investigator about her abuse at the time. SafeSport, a watchdog created after the Nassar scandal to investigate misconduct complaints, informed the West Des Moines Police Department about the allegations. It suspended Gardner from coaching or having contact with any gymnasts in July 2022. The police department said its investigation was closed in 2022 when the initial accuser decided she did not want to pursue charges. Weldon said police never reached out to her in 2022 but she's unsure whether she would have wanted to press charges then. She said she came forward in April 2024 at age 16 after she matured and began to realize the severity of her abuse. She praised police for doing 'an amazing job' keeping her informed about the progress of the case. 'It's definitely taken awhile, but I mean, even I didn't realize how many steps there would be to charge him with anything,' she said. Police defend investigative efforts Iowa investigators say they searched Gardner's home in May and seized electronic devices that contained images of nude girls from a hidden camera Gardner placed in the bathroom of a Purvis, Mississippi, gym where he previously worked. West Des Moines Police Sgt. Daniel Wade said Wednesday the department sought the FBI's assistance in mid-July when the case's 'scope started to broaden.' Asked why the department didn't involve FBI sooner, he said, 'We call the FBI when the time is right.' Gardner is charged in federal court in Mississippi with producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct related to the alleged hidden camera. Federal and state investigations remain active, and additional charges are possible. Wade defended the department's investigative efforts over the last three years. He said investigators 'went as far with it as we could' in 2022, without a victim seeking charges and have been conducting a thorough investigation since receiving the new complaint in 2024. Wade declined comment on whether investigators reached out to Weldon and other potential victims identified in 2022, saying only that police opened 'lines of communication with different people' that later paid off. Weldon said she met with investigators Tuesday and they asked her to identify herself in an image Gardner allegedly secretly took of her in a vulnerable stretching position. Protecting the 'male figure in my life' Weldon said her goal since she was a girl was to reach the elite level in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic program for those who aim to compete internationally. She said she started training at Chow's after her family moved to Iowa in 2015. She began taking private lessons with Gardner two or three times per week shortly after he joined Chow's in September 2018, when she 11 years old. Weldon said she was struggling as her parents went through a divorce and her father was largely absent from her life. She said Gardner sought to fill that role by telling her she could tell him 'anything' and that he would always be there for her. In hindsight, she said he was manipulating her in order to gain her trust. Finley's mother, Julie Weldon, said she heard concerns about Gardner from other parents at Chow's early on and asked her daughter whether her coach had ever done anything inappropriate. Finley said she falsely told her mother no because she was protecting the 'male figure in my life.' Inappropriate behavior progressed She said Gardner began touching her inappropriately in 2019 during lessons, beginning with long hugs and pats on the back. She said his behavior progressed, and he began touching her butt during the hugs and requiring her to stretch for extended periods in positions that exposed her vagina and anus out of her leotard. She said around 2020 he began touching her vagina while spotting her during exercises. She recalled once telling him not to put his hands there and he claimed it was an accident because her 'leotard was slippery.' Weldon recalled reaching her breaking point with Gardner after a 2021 training in which he yelled and threw shoes at her, telling her she'd never reach elite status. She said she walked out and told her mom she wanted to quit. She said many of her classmates quit or didn't return because of Gardner's conduct after the gym shut down during the pandemic. But while he made her hate gymnastics at times, she continued training when her family moved to Texas and then to Utah. She said she eventually proved Gardner wrong by earning elite status and a spot on a Division 1 team. After news of Gardner's arrest, Weldon saw his jail booking photo in the AP story. She said she was struck by how much heavier and unkempt he appeared. 'He's definitely like gone through a spiral,' she said. 'I think he probably just had so much guilt built up in him that he kind of turned into that.'
