Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

University of Iowa hospitals expert takes questions on J&J concerns

Iowa orders pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Marion school board votes 5-2 to no longer consider ’Mavericks’

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

24-hour COVID-19 vaccine clinic to take place this weekend

US recommends 'pause' for J&J COVID-19 vaccine over clot reports

Cedar Rapids clinic to receive federal COVID-19 allocation starting this…

Home / Sports

After just one season, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark belongs to the nation

Mike HlasBy: Mike Hlas Apr. 2, 2021 12:50 pm Updated: Apr. 2, 2021 2:04 pm
After just one season, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark belongs to the nation

The best things happen without preceding hype, things that gradually wrap themselves around our hearts because they're unusually good and special.

University of Iowa sports has had an embarrassment of such riches in 2020-21. Luka Garza for Iowa men's basketball, Spencer Lee for Hawkeye wrestling. Caitlin Clark for Iowa women's basketball.

The University of Iowa's top home attendance average for women's basketball over the last 10 seasons in which fans were present is 7,102, in 2019-20. Assuming Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be open to all in the 2021-22 season, we may see the home average zoom to 10,000, 12,000 ... more?

The Hawkeyes should have an excellent team, perhaps a serious Final Four contender. But beyond that, they have a phenomenon in Clark.

There hasn't been anything quite like this at Iowa. Admittedly, it's hard to quantify that when Megan Gustafson was the National Player of the Year just two seasons ago and Garza has become the Hawkeyes' first men's basketball National Player of the Year.

Neither went unnoticed near or far, and deservedly so. Theirs were careers that were extraordinary and unique here.

This Clark thing, though, feels like something else. Like she's going to be part of the national sports consciousness for the duration of her Iowa career, a true household name in sports.

As a freshman she led the NCAA in scoring (26.6 points per game) and 3-pointers (116) and was second in assists per game (7.1). Those numbers are crazy good, obviously, but it's the way she amassed them that captivated people across the nation so quickly.

Clark's long-range shooting ability that invites comparisons to Stephen Curry, the way she sees and reacts to everything on the court, her coolheaded tenacity - people that see her play for the first time become instant fans.

NBA superstar Kevin Durant wrote that Clark 'belongs in the league right now.” We assume he meant the WNBA, but who knows?

U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe tweeted 'That Caitlin Clark is a show!! Will be fun to watch for so many years!”

After the first week of the NCAA men's tournament, ESPN men's basketball analyst Jay Bilas raved about the performance of Syracuse's Buddy Boeheim, but added 'He has been the second-most exciting player to watch in this postseason next to Caitlin Clark of Iowa. That 35 (points) she dropped on Kentucky was mesmerizing. She is fantastic.”

Following Iowa's NCAA second-round win over Kentucky that led into a Sweet 16 matchup with Connecticut, Dan Patrick opened his March 24 national sports radio show by saying this: 'If you haven't seen Caitlin Clark, do yourself a favor.

'It was a clinic that Caitlin Clark put on. She let everybody know she can do everything, and she probably could have had as many points as she wanted to against Kentucky. ... Back and forth, up and down, offense, defense, great passer, deep range.”

The Iowa-Connecticut Sweet 16 game on ABC averaged 1.56 million viewers on a Saturday afternoon. UConn is old money in women's basketball, yes. But that rating was the second-highest ever for a women's Sweet 16 contest.

With several more months for fans to salivate over the prospect of again attending live college basketball and the potential of the Clark-led Hawkeyes, something will be weird if Iowa doesn't average a five-digit crowd per home game. That joint's gonna jump.

It will in Ames, too. Iowa State, which came so close to a Sweet 16 berth itself, should have a terrific team led by Ashley Joens. She was fifth in the nation in scoring this year at 24.2 points per game.

The Cyclones and big Hilton Coliseum crowds certainly are no strangers. ISU has been in the top two or three in national attendance every year. It has averaged between 9,100 and 10,000 fans in each of the last 10 years in which fans could attend games.

Next season? Ten thousand might be one of the smaller crowds.

And the Iowa-Iowa State game at Hilton Coliseum? Get your tickets as soon as they're available, because they won't last long.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) spins the ball as players come in for a timeout during the Hawkeyes' 96-78 women's basketball win over Penn State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 18. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Iowa State University, Women's Basketball, University of Iowa
Mike Hlas

Mike Hlas

Columnist, The Gazette

I am the sports columnist and Iowa men’s basketball beat writer for The Gazette.

Bowling alleys, like universities, are melting pots

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Only previous Iowa state trooper shot to death was former…

Iowa men’s basketball adds 6-foot-11 Riley Mulvey for 2021-22 season

What’s next for Iowa men’s basketball?

All articles by Mike

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Vanessa Miller Higher Ed 2h ago

House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

James Q. Lynch Government & Politics Apr. 12, 2021 6:46 pm

Iowa universities promise more traditional fall experience

Iowa universities promise more traditional fall experience

Vanessa Miller Higher Ed Apr. 12, 2021 11:08 am

Sports

Iowa football takeaways: Tory Taylor’s quest, Spencer Petras’ accuracy and…

Iowa football takeaways: Tory Taylor’s quest, Spencer Petras’ accuracy and…

Leah Vann

Hawkeye Football 37m ago

Kirkwood sweeps way into national volleyball quarterfinals

Kirkwood sweeps way into national volleyball quarterfinals

K.J. Pilcher

Sports 39m ago

At Lisbon, a track program, then a track ... and…

At Lisbon, a track program, then a track ... and…

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field 2h ago

Bowling alleys, like universities, are melting pots

Bowling alleys, like universities, are melting pots

Mike Hlas

Iowa Hawkeyes Apr. 13, 2021 11:16 am

Iowa Hawkeyes

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Basketball Apr. 12, 2021 3:56 pm

Iowa center Noah Fenske to transfer

Iowa center Noah Fenske to transfer

Hawkeye Football Apr. 12, 2021 1:58 pm

Iowa football player Josiah Miamen arrested on Sunday

Iowa football player Josiah Miamen arrested on Sunday

The Gazette

Hawkeye Football Apr. 12, 2021 1:44 pm

Only previous Iowa state trooper shot to death was former…

Only previous Iowa state trooper shot to death was former…

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Football Apr. 12, 2021 2:35 pm

Hawkeye Basketball

Iowa men’s basketball adds 6-foot-11 Riley Mulvey for 2021-22 season

Iowa men’s basketball adds 6-foot-11 Riley Mulvey for 2021-22 season

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Basketball Apr. 10, 2021 4:07 pm

Jack Nunge transferring from Iowa to Xavier

Jack Nunge transferring from Iowa to Xavier

The Gazette

Hawkeye Basketball Apr. 10, 2021 9:12 am

What’s next for Iowa men’s basketball?

What’s next for Iowa men’s basketball?

, Mike Hlas

On Iowa Apr. 7, 2021 12:12 pm

Iowa’s Luka Garza wins John R. Wooden Award

Iowa’s Luka Garza wins John R. Wooden Award

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Basketball Apr. 6, 2021 6:00 pm

Iowa State Cyclones

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Ben Visser

Iowa State Football Apr. 13, 2021 10:01 am

Brock Purdy has sights set high for Iowa State football…

Brock Purdy has sights set high for Iowa State football…

Ben Visser

Iowa State Football Apr. 12, 2021 10:23 am

Deon Broomfield finds road back to Iowa State

Deon Broomfield finds road back to Iowa State

Ben Visser

Iowa State Football Apr. 7, 2021 6:22 pm

Xavier Hutchinson, other Iowa State receivers making most of first…

Xavier Hutchinson, other Iowa State receivers making most of first…

Ben Visser

Iowa State Football Apr. 6, 2021 10:48 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company