Tag: Iowa Basketball

Kristin Juszczyk teases a possible Caitlin Clark collaboration with latest social media posts

Something is maybe most definitely happening.

Caitlin Clark announced her intention to turn pro on Thursday, and the news has basketball fans thinking really hard about what’s next, including a celebratory outfit by Kristin Juszczyk.

Caitlin Clark’s going to the WNBA, and the news has basketball fans so excited. They’re celebrating and making memes about what Caitlin will do when she likely teams up with Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston. They are so deep in the trenches on all things Caitlin Clark that they now believe they’ve uncovered a possible connection with Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

Juszczyk has a licensing deal with the NFL after making custom designs for several celebrities, including Taylor Swift. Recent posts to her Instagram story have fans in suspense and under the impression that somebody will be rocking a Caitlin Clark-themed outfit when the Iowa Hawkeyes play Ohio State on March 3.

Sheryl Swoopes thinks Caitlin Clark’s decision to turn pro is terrific for the WNBA and basketball fans

Sheryl Swoopes shared glowing thoughts on Caitlin Clark’s decision to enter the WNBA.

Basketball fans are thrilled with the news Caitlin Clark is going to the WNBA. Clark’s news even caught the attention of WNBA great Sheryl Swoopes, who also expressed her excitement Thursday during season-opening Athletes Unlimited games.

Sheryl Swoopes’ name has been flying through news cycles since she made comments weeks ago surrounding Caitlin Clark’s journey to the WNBA and breaking Kelsey Plum’s scoring records. Her comments had several inaccuracies in them and that caused an uproar with fans. Swoopes has since apologized, and on a recent Athletes Unlimited broadcast, she took the time to recognize Caitlin for making the decision to join the WNBA.

Here’s what Swoopes shared with viewers:

“I don’t know who’s more relieved, Caitlin or her fans (or the WNBA), but I mean, great news for the league, great news for women’s basketball. Best of luck. It’s going to be an exciting time wherever she ends up going…

It is not just good for women’s college basketball. It is, to your point, good for women’s basketball in general. And Caitlin has had that effect on the game.”

Video courtesy of Athletes Unlimited.

Iowa Hawkeyes on the cusp of ESPN’s bracketology bubble

The Hawkeyes have a pulse. In ESPN’s latest bracketology update, Iowa finds themselves on the cusp of the bubble with a chance to get in.

So, you’re telling me there’s a chance.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have some work to do the rest of the regular season and in the Big Ten Tournament, but they have a postseason NCAA Tournament pulse at the moment.

In ESPN’s latest bracketology, the Hawkeyes make an appearance in Joe Lunardi’s predictions. They are in the “next four out” section alongside Butler, Ole Miss, and Kansas State.

Sitting at an overall record of 17-12 with a Big Ten mark of 9-9, the Hawkeyes have an outside shot at the tournament and essentially need to win out the rest of the regular season plus snag at least one or two conference tournaments to bolster their resume.

Luckily, the Hawkeyes’ next two games are against teams currently in Lunardi’s bracket. First up, on Saturday, March 2nd, the Hawkeyes get a shot to take on the Northwestern Wildcats on the road. Northwestern is currently slotted as a No. 9 seed trending upwards.

Iowa finishes the regular season with a home date against the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, March 10th. Illinois is currently slotted as a No. 4 seed by Lunardi.

With the calendar turning to March, postseason runs are where the impossible becomes the norm. With two games to go and a Big Ten Tournament, the Iowa Hawkeyes still have a fighting chance to sneak into the big dance and at this point, that is all you can ask for.

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Caitlin Clark’s WNBA draft announcement has fans making Shaq and Kobe memes with her and Aliyah Boston

These are absolute cinema. The internet is amazing.

Nobody is probably more excited about Caitlin Clark going to the WNBA than basketball fans. It’s got them making memes and dreaming up scenarios where Caitlin and Aliyah Boston take over the league.

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA declaration announcement sent sports fans into a frenzy on Thursday when she dropped a mid-day update. As fans scrambled to process that Clark’s college career would end after the NCAA tournament, reality set in that something even better might happen. Clark has an excellent chance — nearly a foregone conclusion — to join the Indiana Fever and reimagine her fantastic connection with former Iowa Hawkeyes center Monika Czinano with 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston.

The thought of such a pairing has fans making memes, including a ton of Shaq and Kobe references.

Caitlin Clark officially declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft and hoops fans were so thrilled

LET’S GOOOOOOOO!

Caitlin Clark is poised to shift the landscape of the WNBA, and hoops fans can’t wait for the moment. On Thursday, Clark shocked social media when she dropped a mid-day announcement that she was declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Caitlin Clark’s season isn’t finished, but she already knows how life will be after it ends. Clark has decided that she will prepare for her professional career. Her message to fans, in true Caitlin form, was brief but straight to the point: the 2024 WNBA Draft is happening. That’s fantastic news. (That’s also really good news for the Indiana Fever too.)

Here’s how basketball fans reacted to her big announcement:

Caitlin Clark officially declares for the WNBA draft 2024

THIS. IS. NOT. A. DRILL.

Just like we all drew it up: Caitlin Clark is headed to the WNBA Draft.

The Indiana Fever have to be absolutely thrilled right now. The Caitlin Clark sweepstakes is seemingly over. Clark has officially declared her intentions to join the WNBA, and somewhere, Aliyah Boston probably just turned a cartwheel. Days ago, Clark was still undecided, but SUPRISE!

She shared the news on her social media accounts Thursday, saying that though the Iowa Hawkeyes’ season is far from over, she is excited for the journey ahead. Clark thanked her teammates and coaching staff but saved some of the best words for last.

“Most importantly, none of this would been possible without my family and friends who have been by my side through it all,” she said. “Because of all of you, my dreams came true.”

https://www.instagram.com/caitlinclark22/p/C38kF5SPEbS/

Social media reacts as latest Caitlin Clark triple-double powers No. 4 Iowa past Illinois

Social media reacted as Caitlin Clark’s latest triple-double helped power No. 4 Iowa women’s basketball past Illinois, 101-85.

Coming off a frustrating loss on Thursday at No. 16 Indiana, the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes returned home to Carver-Hawkeye Arena looking for a strong bounce-back performance.

Iowa got just that. Behind a balanced scoring effort, the Hawkeyes rolled away from Illinois, 101-85. It’s the ninth time this season that Iowa has eclipsed 100 points and the 19th game in which the Hawkeyes scored 90 or more points.

The Hawkeyes were led by Caitlin Clark’s 16th career triple-double. The 6-foot senior guard dropped 24 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 10 assists to power Iowa past the Illini.

It wasn’t a vintage shooting day for Clark as she finished just 6-of-18 from the floor, including 5-of-14 from 3-point range. But, she more than made up for it with all of her collective contributions.

Iowa (24-4, 13-3 Big Ten) had three others join Clark in double figures. Sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke finished with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting. She nearly double-doubled with nine rebounds as well. Stuelke also added an assist and a block.

Meanwhile, fifth-year guard Molly Davis had an encouraging day, scoring 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting with five assists. Davis knocked down a trio of 3-pointers.

Graduate guard Kate Martin rounded out Iowa’s double-figure scorers with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including a 3-for-6 day from beyond the arc.

The Hawkeyes had three other players with six or more points as redshirt junior guard Kylie Feuerbach, junior guard Sydney Affolter and sophomore guard Taylor McCabe each knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.

It was an important bounce-back victory for the Hawkeyes. Social media enjoyed what it saw from Iowa.

Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers: Stream, broadcast info for Thursday

No. 4 Iowa heads to No. 16 Indiana. Here’s how Hawkeye fans can watch, stream and listen to tonight’s massive Big Ten showdown.

Strap in folks, this is going to be a wild ride!

The No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team travels to hostile territory to take on No. 16 Indiana. It’s a matchup between last season’s Big Ten regular-season champion (the Hoosiers) and last season’s Big Ten Tournament champion (the Hawkeyes).

Last year these two produced an all-time classic in Iowa’s regular-season finale. Senior guard Caitlin Clark lifted then-No. 6 Iowa past then-No. 2 Indiana with a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer to propel the Hawkeyes to an 86-85 victory.

It sent Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a frenzy and started a run of nine straight wins that led Iowa to a Big Ten Tournament title and its first national championship game appearance.

This year, the two have already faced once, and it was a one-sided victory for the Hawkeyes. Clark scored 30 points and dished 11 assists in Iowa’s 84-57 victory. That was in January, though, and this time the game is being played on Indiana’s court, in front of Mick Foley himself. The Hoosiers are undefeated this year at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and do not look to break that streak this late into the season.

For the Hawkeyes, it’s all about winning. The individual scoring record has been broken by Caitlin Clark, and it’s a huge weight lifted off of the team. All that’s left is making it back to the big dance where they can hopefully win it all this year. They have a big test first in Indiana, though.

Here’s how Hawkeye fans can watch, stream and listen to tonight’s massive Big Ten battle. Plus, a look at Iowa and Indiana’s projected starters and game notes for each.

Iowa women’s basketball returns to No. 1 seed line in ESPN’s latest bracketology

After a week away, the Iowa Hawkeyes are back as a No. 1 seed in ESPN’s latest women’s bracketology.

After dipping to the No. 2 seed line following their loss at Nebraska, the Iowa Hawkeyes are back on the No. 1 line in ESPN’s latest edition of women’s bracketology.

With senior superstar Caitlin Clark having made history as the NCAA women’s basketball all-time leading scorer, Clark and Iowa can now focus entirely on just playing its best basketball collectively.

In addition to having set the NCAA women’s basketball all-time scoring record, Clark also set Iowa’s single-game scoring record in the Hawkeyes’ 106-89 victory over Michigan last Thursday. Clark erupted with 49 points on 9-of-18 3-point shooting.

“I don’t know if you can really script it any better. Just to do it in this fashion, I’m very grateful. Very thankful to be surrounded by so many people that have been my foundation,” Clark said afterward.

But, Clark and the Hawkeyes have larger team goals. That begins with Iowa’s Thursday date at No. 16 Indiana (21-4, 12-3 Big Ten). In order to stay within one game of with first-place Ohio State in the Big Ten standings, the Hawkeyes need to collect a key road win over the Hoosiers.

It would also help solidify the Hawkeyes on the top seed line in any future editions of ESPN’s bracketology. Let’s check in on who all is currently in Iowa’s bracket per ESPN’s resident women’s bracketologist Charlie Creme and what the full lay of the land looks like.

Sue Bird explains how Caitlin Clark can separate herself in the WNBA and become an All-Star

Sue Bird is all in on Caitlin Clark tearing up the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark is the most prolific scorer in women’s college basketball, and she’s catching the attention of the sports world one logo 3-pointer at a time. Her deep shooting abilities are part of why future Hall of Famer Sue Bird predicts Clark’s popularity will translate to the WNBA, and she’ll be an All-Star during her rookie year.

For weeks on end, basketball fans have been talking about Caitlin Clark. Her game has brought national attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes, and she’s even gotten high praise from basketball great Shaquille O’Neal, who called her the greatest women’s college basketball player ever. Sue Bird, another basketball legend, has also been watching Clark. She appeared on ESPN shortly after Caitlin broke the NCAA scoring record to share how she wasn’t surprised about the Iowa Star’s dominance.

Now, Bird is doubling down on her compliments for Clark with a prediction. Per Richard Deitsch of The Athletic, during an upcoming episode on the Sports Media Podcast, Sue shared why she thinks Caitlin’s skillset and inevitable transition to the WNBA could mean All-Star honors during her rookie season.

Here’s what she said:

“I think if she plays up to her potential, yes, that’s realistic,” Bird said. “And, by the way, that’s not a knock on anyone in the WNBA. It’s going to be hard, but I think she can do it. You do have to see what happens when they get there. You are now playing against adults, and this is their career. But I do think she has a chance at having a lot of success early, and I think a lot of it comes down to her long-distance shooting. That is her separator. You’re not really used to guarding people out there.”