The Iowa locker room probably still has some of Caitlin Clark’s favorite snacks. So, who can blame her if she cannot stay away from her home team? The place turned her into a legend and gave her an arena full of screaming fans. She might be gearing up for another WNBA season with the Indiana Fever, but if you thought that would make her dip out on her Hawkeyes for good, guess again. Because, well, she’s back. Again. And her recent trip there wasn’t just a casual stroll down memory lane. 

Turns out that Clark is spending some serious time in Iowa these days. And how do we know? Because assistant coach Raina Harmon made sure the world knew what Clark was up to when she posted a picture of the former Hawkeye alongside Iowa staffer Tanis Davis with the caption, “Pulled up on my dawg and she was WORKING! Them scary hours gon have ‘em like 😱.” 

Classic Clark- so calling her CC is just too apt. You already know she’s catching up with old teammates, making appearances, and watching college hoops, but she’s also getting ready for WNBA Season 2. And the coach’s reaction screams she is working hard! To make things even sweeter, the Fever star also reposted the picture on her story, writing just one word: “family.” That’s it. That’s the post. And that’s exactly what Iowa is to her. She’s there for them at every step, and you can feel the love all around.

Not to forget, this comes right after her full-on basketball-watching marathon. For three straight days, the Fever guard was spotted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Big Ten tournament, back in the building where she made history. She sat courtside, cheering, clapping, and probably doing that little smirk of hers when someone hit a big shot. She was all in—shouting, calling out refs, celebrating like she was still suited up in black and gold. At one point, cameras even caught her slapping at a ref and yelling, “That’s a bad call!” 

She was there for the 74-61 win over Michigan State on Thursday. She was there when they rolled past Wisconsin 81-54 on Wednesday. And, obviously, she was courtside for Iowa’s big showdown against Ohio State, hoping to see them keep their championship streak alive. And amidst it all, she admitted during a courtside interview that she missed the energy of March Madness. And really, how could she not? The deafening crowds, the buzzer-beaters, the feeling that every game could be the start of something magical—college basketball just hits different. But don’t let the nostalgia fool you; Clark’s eyes are still locked on the future.

Clark Clark’s been hitting the weight room—and it shows

If you’ve been wondering how Clark’s prepping for Year 2 in the WNBA, well, let’s just say she’s not messing around. Fever head coach Stephanie White spilled the tea back in February, saying, “She is stronger, first and foremost.” 

White mentioned how Clark realized she needed to bulk up, hit the weight room hard, and improve her physicality. “She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength, in terms of low center of gravity, time under tension, all of those things.”

And we SEE it. Literally. On March 8, photographer Bri Lewerke posted a courtside pic of Clark during Iowa’s game against Ohio State with the caption, “Well someone’s been in the weight room 👀😮‍💨 @CaitlinClark22.” And yes, her arms are looking jacked. You could tell she’s been putting in the work, building muscle, and making sure she’s ready to take the next step.

Clark’s commitment to bulking up makes total sense. While she dazzled in her rookie season with the Fever, she also had to deal with some of the most physical defenders in the WNBA. Turns out that veteran defenders aren’t exactly thrilled about getting crossed up by a rookie, so they made sure to welcome her with some aggressive defense.

However, that didn’t stop her from doing what she does best. She still went out there, dropped 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds a game, shot 41.7% from the field, 34.4% from three, and a cool 90.6% from the line, and walked away with the Rookie of the Year award. The impact she had on the Fever and the entire WNBA was immeasurable.

And now, she’s stronger, sharper, and even more ready. Indiana’s championship odds are creeping up, and Caitlin Clark is looking like she’s about to go off in Year 2. We’re ready for it. And so is she.