“It was the ride of a lifetime,” said Iowa head coach Jan Jensen explaining the Caitlin Clark journey at Iowa as the Carver-Hawkeye Arena is packed to witness history being made today. We are just moments away from witnessing Caitlin Clark join Iowa legends Megan Gustafson and Michelle Edwards as the third Hawkeye to have their jersey retired and raised to the rafters!

However, just hours before the ceremony,  it was Clark’s current team that stole the spotlight off her! The Indiana Fever are making some serious noise in the WNBA free agency market, proving they’re all-in on building a championship contender side around Caitlin Clark.

In a big move, they’ve signed 2x WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner to a one-year deal, signaling their commitment to pushing for the title next season.

Caitlin Clark is clearly excited about the moves the Indiana Fever have made this offseason, which includes adding key players like Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and now DeWanna Bonner to the roster.

She praised the front office’s efforts, by saying, “Obviously, you know we have made some great moves.” She continued, “I think you know Kelly and Amber and the whole Fever organization they’re wanting to help us win now and I think that’s really important and I think they’re putting some really great pieces together that are going to compliment each other really well.” 

The addition of veteran forwards DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard in particular highlights the organization’s intent to win the championship as soon as possible. Bonner who was part of the Connecticut Sun’s team that reached the semis last season was averaging 15.0 points and 6 rebounds per game last season. Howard was playing her trade with the Dallas Wings where she was averaging  17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists per game.

While much has been said about Indiana’s impressive offseason moves, today is all about celebrating Caitlin Clark’s special moment. As her iconic No. 22 jersey rises to the rafters, let’s take a look at what people have to say about this unforgettable day in her honor.

Basketball World Celebrates Caitlin Clark’s Jersey Retirement

Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz highlighted just how rare and special Caitlin Clark’s jersey retirement is, telling NBC Sports “It’s nice to be able to celebrate somebody in the moment — as close to that moment as you can because you don’t always have that opportunity,”  “So, we’re doing it quickly here, but it’s also a wonderful homecoming for her and an opportunity for our fan base to get a chance to celebrate her again.”

Goetz’s words capture the essence of Clark’s impact not just on Iowa basketball but on the sport as a whole. Many legends have to wait years, even decades, before their jerseys are raised to the rafters. But Clark’s influence has been so transformative that Iowa didn’t want to wait. Her record-breaking performances, leadership, and ability to take the program to back-to-back NCAA championship appearances made it clear that she deserved this honor now.

Jen Jensen also reiterated the same sentiment by comparing Clark with Michael Jordan. She said, “If you know Michael Jordan, you know he went to Carolina. He’s still Carolina blue, right? Forever. I feel really fortunate that Caitlin will forever be black and gold. She’ll always be part of our story here.” 

Speaking of Jordan, Nike made sure to mark the occasion in a way only they could by dropping a powerful tribute video celebrating Clark’s legacy. With the tagline “A Day 22 Remember,”

As Caitlin Clark’s legendary No. 22 takes its rightful place in the rafters, this night stands as a testament to her lasting impact on Iowa basketball. Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever are making moves to ensure her legacy extends to the WNBA by assembling a championship-caliber roster. Stay tuned for more updates!