Former Connecticut and WNBA star Sue Bird helped to inspire Iowa women
Bird sat with players during Friday's shootaround and talked about embracing the moment
By Susan Harman
Former UConn and Seattle Storm star Sue Bird visited Iowa’s shootaround Friday before the game against Louisville. A video circulating on social media shows that she was greeted like a rock star. The shocked expressions were priceless. It was the equivalent of a 1950’s kid having Mickey Mantle walk onto the sandlot ballfield.
Bird, who had lots of experience playing in Elite 8 games, sat with the players in their circle and talked about the moment.
“I think what she kind of preached is like things are going to be hard in this game,” Iowa’s Caitlin Clark said. “There’s always hard moments. Not everything is going to go your way.”
Clark segued into Iowa’s poor start, which led to an 8-0 Louisville lead and forced Iowa coach Lisa Bluder to call timeout. She thought Iowa’s experience along with a defensive adjustment helped bring the team back.

Clark’s passing skills have drawn comparisons to the magician-like Bird, one of the great point guards of all time.
*How Iowa’s experience translates. It’s fine to say that Iowa has a lot of experience with the same five players having started for three years in a row. But what does that mean on the court?
“I think It’s our confidence in each other,” McKenna Warnock said. “I think we’ve had those experiences. Like someone said, it’s been 90 games that we’ve all started together and just our ability to be able to know every move that the other person is going to do. I just think our ability to just respond in all those different situations. Since we had those experiences, I think that really leads us up for success this year, and when you don’t have those experiences, you can’t learn.”
*On the lam. The irrepressible Clark got her hands on the game ball after time expired. You can’t really hide a basketball in a flimsy uniform, so she did the next best thing.
“I did want the game ball, so I chucked it to my dad,” she said, grinning. “I hope the NCAA—I hope they got out of the arena in time, so the NCAA can’t chase them down. But I told them to run. I’ll get it later at the hotel.”
If the City wants to prosecute, they know where to find her this week.

*Sadness to go with celebration. Iowa Associate head coach Jan Jensen’s father had been in hospice but died before he got to see his daughter’s ultimate accomplishment as a coach.
“She is the epitome of an amazing person, amazing coach, so to see her go through that, it’s obviously super tough, especially in one of the highs of all our lives,” Monika Czinano said. “But her dad’s dream was to see us do this, and so we knew we had to see it through for that, and I believe he was there with us every step of the way. So definitely an emotional day, all things considered.”
*Social media hit. Caitlin Clark lit up social media Sunday night. Everyone from local pols to Dick Vitale to Megan Gustafson in Greece were entertained by the Hawkeyes’ 97-83 victory that earned them a spot in the Final Four Friday in Dallas.
Washington Post columnist Jerry Brewer retweeted a lengthy profile that the paper’s Ben Golliver did about a week ago.
Former Iowa star Gustafson, a national player of the year in 2019 who is playing professionally in Greece, tweeted: CC IS PLAYING OUT OF HER MIND. GIVE HER ALL THE AWARDS IMMEDIATELY.
Dick Vitale, who tweets just like he talks when analyzing games (punctuation optional), said: “OMG I can’t believe what I am watching in this 3S lady/SUPER – Sensational -Scintillating = Caitlin Clark! @CaitlinClark22 is way better than I thought. Heard so much about her from my buddy-partner @Espn Dave O’Brien & wow he was on the money / she is as good as it gets!”
Iowa and Clark got shoutouts from Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green, State Reps. Dave Jacoby and Adam Zabner, and State Sen. Zach Wahls among others in the JoCo contingent.
Former West Des Moines Valley girls basketball coach Josef Sigrist tweeted: “This is the Caitlin Clark that forced us to put a “triangle and two” on in HS… the 2 were both responsible for HER!”
*Shoutout to former players. Bluder made an effort in describing her team’s inclusive culture to reach out to former players, coaches and others previously associated with the program. She mentioned Gustafson’s interest and excitement from a world away.
“I mean we had players out here that were from when we recruited and coached 20 years ago,” she said. “I mean, it’s so, so special. But, yeah, I mean, it feels great. And every Hawkeye that’s been since then, you know, every Hawkeye for the last 30 years that has wanted to get back to that Final Four, they’re a part of this. They really are, and I want them to know they’re a part of it.”
Did it for Dad.
We love you @goiowa! #Hawkeyes x #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/pdw6kQooFX
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 27, 2023