After a record-setting NCAA Tournament run and season, it took all of one exhibition for senior Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes to start breaking records all over again.
With its historic Crossover At Kinnick, the Iowa Hawkeyes set an all-time women’s college basketball attendance record. An official crowd of 55,646 fans attended the Hawkeyes’ 94-72 exhibition win over the DePaul Blue Demons, shattering the previous attendance record of 29,619, set by Connecticut and Oklahoma in the 2002 NCAA championship game at San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Played inside Iowa’s football stadium, Kinnick Stadium, players had to tangle with something that’s usually unfamiliar on the basketball court: the elements. Even having to adjust for the wind, Clark and the Hawkeyes put on a show.
Working against the weather, Clark still knocked down a trio of shots from long range. The West Des Moines superstar finished with a triple-double, scoring 34 points on 13-of-26 field goal shooting, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing 10 assists.
Four other Hawkeyes finished in double figures. Fifth-year guard Molly Davis scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, sophomore Hannah Stuelke finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting, graduate senior Kate Martin chipped in with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and junior center Addi O’Grady tallied a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
It was really quite the display for women’s sports and women’s college basketball. The incredible entrance into Kinnick Stadium, the environment Hawkeye fans created and the performance from the players added up to one special day for the University of Iowa.
Social media reacted accordingly as history was made and Clark and Co. served notice that another magical season is en route for Iowa. Let’s take a look back at the incredible day through your reactions.