Caitlin Clark: Iowa set to retire number 22 jersey
Caitlin Clark is expected to be the number one pick for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft
The Iowa Hawkeyes are set to retire Caitlin Clark’s number 22 jersey.
The announcement at Iowa’s end-of-season celebration ceremony comes days after her record-breaking NCAA career came to an end.
She finishes as the all-time leading scorer in college basketball, totalling 3,951 points and averaging 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
Clark, 22, is set to join the WNBA and is projected to be the number one pick in the draft on Monday.
She addressed fans after the announcement was made, saying: “You’ve all inspired me as much as I inspired you, you allowed me to live out my dream every single day, and for that, I’m very thankful. It’s been very special, and this place will always be home to me.”
Her college career came to an end on Sunday as Iowa came up short against the undefeated South Carolina in the NCAA championship game.
Clark’s time at Iowa ended without a national championship but she collected two major college basketball individual accolades – the Naismith National Player of the Year and Wooden Award – for the second consecutive season.
Her impact on women’s college basketball will not be forgotten, with the final pulling in a viewership of 18.9 million, which was more than the men’s final at 14.8 million.
The Indiana Fever have the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and are expected to select Clark at number one.
Her influence can already be seen across the league, where the Fever will have 36 of their 40 games nationally broadcast compared to only one last season.
The WNBA Draft will take place on Monday, 15 April at 19:30 Eastern time (00:30 BST).