IOWA CITY, Iowa – Hawkeye fans had one last chance to celebrate the greatest two-year stretch in the history of the Iowa women’s basketball team, and the greatest player in program history.

Caitlin Clark and her teammates and coaches were honored on Wednesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in an end of the season celebration.

Iowa finished as the NCAA runner-up for the second straight season, losing to South Carolina 87-75 in the national title game last Sunday in Cleveland.

Clark finished her legendary career as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer for both mean and women with 3,951 points. She is also second all-time, men’s or women’s, with 548 made threes and 1,144 assists.

The Iowa Athletic Department showed its appreciation by announcing that Clark’s No. 22 jersey would be retired.

Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz made the announcement at Wednesday’s celebration.

Clark is the third women’s player to have her number retired, joining guard Michelle Edwards and center Megan Gustafson.

“It’s super incredible,” Clark said after the jersey retirement announcement. “It’s something I’m very thankful for. I’ve had some amazing teammates over the course of my four years here … That number holds a lot of weight, far beyond my name, and I’m just super grateful.”

Clark’s impact on the women’s game was on full display in the NCAA Tournament as Iowa set viewership records in three straight games.

The Iowa-LSU rematch in the Elite Eight drew 12.3 million average viewers; the Iowa-UConn matchup in the Final Four drew 14.453 average viewers; and the national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina drew 18.9 million average viewers, which was the most-watched basketball game — men’s and women’s, college and pros — since 2019.

It also marked the first time ever that a women’s national championship game drew more viewers than the men’s college final.

The 6-foot- Clark, who is from West Des Moines, is considered a lock to be selected first overall in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever next Monday.

But Iowa City will always feel like home to Clark as she told the approximately 8,000 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I would say you’ve all inspired me as much as I inspired you,” Clark said. “And you allowed me to live our 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.”