2024 sports year in review: It was all about Caitlin Clark

Before we take too many steps in 2025, let’s take a look back at some of the best stories of 2024.

Last year — I can write that now — was quite remarkable on the local sports scene, but also can be summed up in three words.

Caitlin, Caitlin, Caitlin.

You can throw in a little Lisa, Jan, Kate and a few others, but 2024 was the Year of Caitlin Clark … again.

After leading the Iowa women’s basketball team to the NCAA championship in 2023, Clark did it again in ’24 and spiced things up by becoming the most prolific scorer in NCAA history — women or men.

And things were just warming up for Clark.

As expected, she was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and, after leading the Indiana Fever to the playoffs, earned all-WNBA honors and was tabbed rookie of the year.

But Clark wasn’t done quite yet with 2024. In the last two weeks, she has been named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press, Time Magazine and, just this week, the Sporting News.

Some other highlights from 2024 include player of the year honors by a variety of national outlets, Big Ten POY, Big Ten Athlete of the Year and the James E. Sullivan Award as "the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States.“

She also was listed among the Forbes “most powerful women” and its ”30-under-30“ lists.

And I’m not listing everything.

Clark is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete — a person who not only demonstrates great talent on the court (or field), but does it with grace, a love and passion for the game and understanding of their role in that realm. Iowans are lucky to call her one of “ours.”

But, Clark wasn’t the only story in the past 12 months.

There also was the Iowa women’s basketball team as a whole — a 34-5 season highlighted by another Big Ten tournament title and a second straight NCAA runner-up finish. Kate Martin was drafted into the WNBA, as well.

Then came the surprise announcement that Lisa Bluder was stepping down as head coach and, moments later, that longtime assistant Jan Jensen would run the program.

Iowa women’s basketball has become not only the story of the year for two years running, it helped elevate the attention women’s sports have long deserved across the country.

It’s no longer a “niche” audience of dedicated fans, but a national movement that is long overdue. It, of course, has come with some backlash from those who always want to bring others down. But Clark, Iowa and women’s athletics will rise — and shine — above that noise.

Last year also was an Olympic year, and Iowa was well-represented in Paris — from former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton winning gold as a member of the men’s basketball team to former Hawkeye Spencer Lee capturing silver on the freestyle wrestling mat.

The Iowa women’s wrestling team also made its official debut last year and swept the national duals and team tournament titles.

Iowa State’s men’s wrestling team capped a memorable year with its first Big 12 team title since 2009, a second NCAA title from David Carr and a fourth-place finish at the national tournament.

The Iowa State football team also had quite a run in 2024, winning its first seven games, earning a berth in the Big 12 title game and beating Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to cap an 11-3 season. Iowa didn’t have the season many fans dreamed about, but Kaleb Johnson was a breakout star with 1,725 yards from scrimmage and 23 TDs.

A few other highlights from 2024 include Veterans Memorial Stadium hosting the Class 3A and 4A state baseball tournaments — and Cedar Rapids Kennedy winning the 4A title. North Linn won the Class 1A boys’ basketball title and lost its coach when Mike Hilmer took a job as superintendent at Bellevue.

Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman won four events at the state track and field meet in Des Moines in the spring, then followed that up with a state cross country title in Fort Dodge.

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And Mount Vernon swept its way to a Class 3A state volleyball title in the fall, led by Louisville signee and state player of the year Chloe Meester.

As is the case every year, Eastern Iowa saw some sports icons die in 2024. This past year included the death of former NFL official and athletics administrator Bill Quinby, who to me, was not only a good friend but a person who encompassed all that is good about these games we all love.

So welcome 2025 — what do you have in store for us?

Comments: (319) 398-8461; jr.ogden@thegazette.com