By Susan Harman

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Caitlin Clark always said that the decision whether or not to use her fifth year of eligibility would be a gut decision. Maybe it felt right in her gut, but she and her family and coaches spent a lot of time mulling the advantages and disadvantages.

And the timing of the announcement to forego another college season was calculated as well.

“I just think going into Senior Night, having that decision clear not only for myself but our fans, my teammates, was super important,” Clark said Friday. “And honestly just getting the weight of the world off my shoulders and being able to enjoy this last month with my teammates, I think is the biggest thing.”

Clark said part of her thinking had to do with her teammates who were also going to be honored at Senior Day. If Clark’s status were still unsettled it might distract from celebrating this remarkable class.

“Those other seniors have given so much to this program,” Clark said. “They’re some of my best friends, and they need to be celebrated the same way that I will be, and I think that’s really special.”

Iowa will honor its five seniors following Sunday’s noon game against Big Ten champ Ohio State.

“I’m happy (about the timing of the announcement),” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “She made it before Senior Day instead of going through it and have everybody wonder what’s going to happen. So I thought it was good.”

Bluder said that all season Clark was burdened by the decision of taking the year or entering the WNBA draft.

“Everyone was worried about the (scoring) record, like, ‘Oh she’s stressed out about the record,’” Bluder said. “She was never stressed out about the record. She was stressed out about making this decision. She knew she was going to get that record.”

Associate head coach Jan Jensen told TV outlets covering the girls state basketball tournament in Des Moines Thursday that Clark played more freely at Minnesota Wednesday night because the decision had been made. Clark finished with her 17^th career triple-double.

“I think for sure,” Clark said. “I think anytime you make a big decision and you’re confident in it, that’s just kind of what happens. My biggest focus going into the rest of the year is just smile, have fun, play free.”

Jensen said that Clark’s family and advisors had ongoing talks with the coaching staff for several weeks before the decision was final.

“You’re obviously disappointed because you want her to come back,” Bluder said. “She’s a tremendous player, and we would have loved to have her come back. But also our job is to have them for four years and to support them as best as we can and try to prepare them for the next chapter in their lives. She’s ready for a new challenge.”

While Clark wrestled with the decision it became evident as the season waned.

“I’ve gone back and forth a little bit,” Clark said. “As the season kind of played out it became more clear to me. I know I said at the beginning of the year that I’d definitely just feel (the decision) in my gut. And I think that’s exactly what happened. I kind of knew it was going to be the right step for me.”

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Sharon Goodman to take leave. Redshirt junior center Sharon Goodman from Lime Springs has elected to leave the program to pursue a career in nursing. Goodman came in with Clark’s class but lost her second season to a knee injury. She is foregoing two seasons of eligibility and will be honored with the other seniors on Sunday.

“It was not an easy decision at all,” Goodman said. “It wasn’t something that I made lightly. It was a long process and a long decision. I talked to a lot of family, friends and everybody, but you know I’ve been blessed with the past four years here just to be here at this time with the people that are in the circle.”

Goodman will finish out the semester, graduate and likely go elsewhere for her nursing degree in an accelerated program. She said she was not headed for the transfer portal.

Goodman’s sister Laura is a nurse, and it appeals to her because of its flexibility in terms of location and the manner in which a nurse can serve.

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said coaches tried to help Goodman sort out the factors involved in her decision. “Sharon wants to pursue nursing; it’s not feasible for a nursing student to do college basketball,” she said. “So, I understand that people are ready for the next chapter of their lives after four years of college.”

Goodman was honored at last season’s Final Four for having the best grade-point average among the participants and has been a past Big Ten all-academic selection

Goodman’s mother died of cancer when she was a senior in high school. So she was thrust into the new world of a big university, college sports and academics. Then in her second year she tore her ACL. She credited her faith for helping to sustain herself under the circumstances. Her teammates provided what she called a “second family.”

“I relied on those people to be there to support me when I needed them,” she said. “It’s meant the world.”