March is one of the most exciting times in the United States. It’s the month wherein the highly anticipated NCAA March Madness set off in full swing. The event garnered attention from across the nation. The prestigious tournament provided several surprises in its rich history. However, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ run in 2023 was something for the ages.

The Hawkeyes made it to the NCAA tournament as underdogs. However, their historic run saw them make their first championship appearance in 30 years. Despite losing to the LSU Tigers, their remarkable run has definitely cemented its place in history. Months after their historic run, the Hawkeyes are now embarking on a Europe trip to take on the world. However, the 21-year-old starlet that made their NCAA run possible seemed to be missing during their practice.

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach discusses 21-year-old starlet’s absence

The Iowa Hawkeyes had their most memorable NCAA season in 2023. Their incredible run in the tournament put the entire nation on notice. However, this run would not have been possible without their 21-year sensation, Caitlin Clark.

Clark had an unbelievable season in the NCAA, leading the Iowa Hawkeyes’ resilient run in the tournament. She shattered tournament records throughout her journey to the championship game. She also bagged the ESPY Best Female College Athlete following her historic performance. However, during the Hawkeyes’ practice for their Euro trip, Clark was a no-show.

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Hawkeyes’ head coach, Lisa Bluder, revealed why Clark was not part of their practice. “Caitlin does not feel well today… She wanted to stay, but I [said] no, you gotta go“, she claimed.

Talking about Clark’s illness, she added, “We didn’t want anyone else catching it“.

However, she had some high praise for the 21-year-old too. “I thought she had great momentum going in, like she played really well for us in the final four. I want her to certainly to have the confidence that she played against the best in the country and she played well.“, she opined.

Caitlin Clark received some words of praise from her coach. However, the Hawkeyes have an interesting Euro trip to look forward to.

The Hawkeyes have an exciting Europe trip lined up

The Hawkeyes have come a long way since the NCAA Finals. Despite a disappointing end to their season, the team has not looked back. They now have an exciting European summer tour lined up, filled with basketball action.

Talking about their practices leading up to the trip, coach Bluder said, “I’m excited that we have depth at the inside position; By committing right now, we have 4 people that are really competing for that position. So we’ve seen some improvement in areas we needed to see“.

She also talked about things she was most looking forward to on the trip. “One is we’re having a cooking class in Italy, I mean Italian food, right? And the second thing is probably zip-lining in split”

Talking about Caitlyn’s commitment to the team, she said “I can’t tell you how many things she’s turned down. That tells you a lot about the type of young woman she is and the teammate that she is“.

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Clark proved her worth as a teammate despite missing practice due to illness. Hawkeyes, however, are all set to embark on their Europe trip this August. The team will head to southern Italy and Croatia to play three games. The trip spans 12 days from August 4th to 16th.