“She was a great teammate. She included everybody.” Those words perfectly capture the kind of influence Caitlin Clark had on the Iowa squad during her time there. As an Iowa alumna, Clark spent four years under Bluder’s guidance, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire younger players. Now, as Iowa embarks on its first season without Clark—the reigning ROTY—one of her former teammates reflected on what she misses in training sessions without her. For that, Clark herself has passed the baton while urging her to step up and play her role.

During a recent trip to her alma mater, Caitlin Clark had the chance to join her former teammate Jada Gyamfi on her podcast. The episode, now released, quickly caught attention—not just for the insightful conversation, but for Gyamfi’s heartfelt reflection on missing her former teammates. When asked what exactly she missed about them, Gyamfi began by highlighting Caitlin Clark’s unique and powerful influence on the court.

“I miss voice, like I miss like hearing,” Gyamfi confessed, which immediately caught Clark off guard, prompting her to ask for more details. The 20-year-old Hawkeye went on to explain, “I get just like your intensity, like all that stuff, like it makes practice like more fun cuz like, I feel like we need more of a competitive edge cuz we’re all so nice.”

Well, Gyamfi’s sentiments hold weight, especially when you consider Caitlin Clark’s remarkable career at Iowa. Known as the “Iowa Sensation” during her college years, Clark not only led the team to back-to-back finals appearances but also became the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, surpassing both men’s and women’s records. Her leadership and ability to inspire her teammates didn’t go unnoticed, with former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder praising her for her inclusive and humble approach.

“It was the way that she led. She really incorporated her teammates, she was fun … She wasn’t a prima donna, she didn’t act like she was better than anyone else,” Bluder had stated earlier. However, now that she has moved on from college, Clark has a suggestion for Gyamfi, encouraging her to step up and fill that crucial role, further reflecting the lasting impact she’s had on emerging stars, as seen earlier.

Caitlin Clark demands Jada Gyamfi to step up after her departure

As Gyamfi shared what made Clark so special to Iowa’s squad, Clark quickly responded with a challenge for her junior teammate. “Well, I want you to bring next time tomorrow. You wake up, you bring that to practice,” the Fever guard said, playfully but with purpose. Though Clark’s tone was lighthearted, it might inspire Gyamfi for a reason.

Now in her junior year with the Hawkeyes, Gyamfi has gained more experience than many of her teammates, including the new additions, making her in a prime position to take on that leadership role.

The Iowa forward has spent two seasons with the Hawkeyes but has had limited playing time, making only brief appearances on the court. Throughout her two seasons, she hasn’t started a single game. As a freshman, she played in 8 games, all off the bench, averaging just 3.4 minutes per outing. Her sophomore year saw improvement, with 20 appearances, but her playing time was still limited to an average of 4 minutes per game. Over her time with Iowa, she has accumulated just 33 points while wearing the black and gold jersey.

With five departures from Iowa last season, including key players like Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, and Gabbie Marshall, Jada Gyamfi now finds herself with a real opportunity to prove her worth. Especially since her former teammate and close friend, whom she has always looked up to, is encouraging her to step up.

While it may be hard to say if Gyamfi is leading Iowa in training drills, one thing is for certain—fans will get a chance to see how she contributes when the Hawkeyes, Under the new leadership of Jan Jensen, kick off their NCAA campaign Wednesday night against Northern Illinois.