Hawk Fanatic TV: Iowa women prepare for facing USC then honoring Caitlin Clark
By Hawk Fanatic
IOWA CITY, Iowa – There will be at least one celebration on Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but there could be two if the Iowa women’s basketball team can pull off a major upset.
Prior to Caitlin Clark having her jersey No. 22 retired on Sunday, the Iowa women will face-fourth-ranked USC (19-1, 9-0), which is led by sophomore star JuJu Watkins, whom many believe is the next generational talent in women’s basketball.
The game will start at 12:30 p.m. and will be televised on FOX, which also will televise Clark’s jersey retirement ceremony afterwards.
Clark finished her career in 2024 as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points. She also led Iowa to NCAA runner-up finishes as a junior and senior and she would go on to be the first pick in the 2o24 WNBA draft and the 2024 WNBA rookie of the year.
Her brand now has national appeal, and her impact on the Iowa women’s basketball program continues to be felt in so many ways, from ticket sales to recruiting.
Several prize recruits will attend Sunday’s game, including five-star guard and California native Addie Deal, who already has signed with Iowa.
Clark’s unprecedented success caught the nation’s imagination, and that includes elite recruits from all over the country who probably wouldn’t have considered Iowa prior to Clark’s rise to stardom.

Life on the court after Clark hasn’t been easy for Iowa, which is 4-6 in Big Ten play heading into Sunday’s game.
Clark was among four key players, along with Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall and Molly Davis, that had to be replaced from from last season’s team.
Lisa Bluder also retired as Iowa head coach this past May and was replaced by her long-time assistant coach and close friend, Jan Jensen.
Iowa won 12 of first first 14 games under Jensen, but has struggled in conference play.
Jensen was asked Friday about the challenge of keeping her team focused on the challenge of facing USC despite all the distractions.
“I’m just trying to keep them focused on the opportunity that we have with that,” Jensen said of playing USC. “And then when that’s done, then we can celebrate Caitlin.
“It’s easier said then done. But we visited about it and just kind of kept it more matter of fact. It’s mostly just getting to the actual day and seeing if anybody can keep staying in their lane.”