Caitlin Clark Shares Heartfelt Message After Final Game in Iowa

It's the end of an era for star Iowa Hawkeyes point guard Caitlin Clark, who played her last home game with the team on Monday. The narrow 64–54 win over the No. 8 seeded West Virginia sends No. 1 seeded Iowa to upstate New York this weekend for the Sweet 16 in the Albany 2 Regional semifinals. 

But the moment was a bittersweet one for Clark, who spent her college basketball career playing at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. As such, the 22-year-old posted an emotional tribute to her home turf on Instagram late Wednesday night.

"Goodbye to my forever favorite arena," Clark wrote. "The countless memories I have in this place will be cherished forever. see you in Albany, Hawk fans."

Last month, Clark announced her plans to forego her fifth season of eligibility, which was offered to all players during the 2020—21 season due to the pandemic, and instead declare for the 2024 WNBA draft in April. The move shouldn't have come as a major surprise considering that Clark is widely considered to one of the greatest players in the history of women's college basketball.

"While the season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa," she posted to social media on  February 29. "I am excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft."

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— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) February 29, 2024

Clark became such a draw during her college career that she's even credited with spiking national interest in women's basketball, which has become known as the "Caitlin Clark effect."

Former Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim recently gushed about Clark after she became the all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader earlier this month.

"She’s special to watch and fun to watch," Boeheim said. "I think she’ll be a really good player in the WNBA."