It’s a new destination for Caitlin Clark! The 22-year-old Iowa native has been enjoying her first offseason by spending quality time with her boyfriend, Connor Mc Caffrey. However, this time, she surprised by taking the courtside for her collegiate team, the Iowa Hawkeyes. But it wasn’t just her appearance at the arena that captured everyone’s attention!

The spotlight also fell on her heartwarming bond with her beloved former coach, Lisa Bluder. In a video uploaded on X, Clark was seen embracing the former Hawkeyes coach — a rare sight of the usually reserved Indiana Fever star. Known for her shelf full of accolades, Bluder’s joyful demeanor and shared laughter with Clark melted some hearts.

It seems to have been a moment of pride for Bluder. After retiring following Clark’s departure to the WNBA and Iowa’s 2023–2024 NCAA season, Bluder reflected on the role she played in shaping Clark’s career over four impactful years. Seeing her former players excel on the global stage fills her with joy.

“When you see your athletes achieve their dreams, that’s what coaching is all about. I absolutely love it,” Bluder once shared. Though, Bluder isn’t the only one showing affection. Clark too has a soft corner for her former head coach. In her words, “Simply no one better at building a team.”

By the time she concluded her collegiate career, Clark was the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with 3951 points. She even had an average of 28.4 points, with 8.2 assists per game across her four seasons in Iowa. So, how could Bluder not feel proud? But it’s not just Clark who makes Bluder proud.

It’s Jan Jensen too

Bluder, Clark, and former Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk were seen together at the Knapp Center in Des Moines to watch the Hawkeyes face off against Drake. For Bluder, it was a nostalgic experience. Before her legendary stint at Iowa, Bluder coached at Drake University, where she amassed a 187-106 record over ten years. Even the current Iowa head coach, Jan Jensen, has deep ties to Drake.

Here’s something intriguing you might not have known: During Lisa Bluder’s time at Drake, Jan Jensen was one of her players. “It’s kind of a ‘are you kidding me, right?’ moment. New coach. I’m a senior, and then it ended up being really the best thing. She was just tremendous. She was really just a player’s coach—intense but knew how to make it fun,” Jensen shared about her experience as a player.

When Jensen was playing for Drake, she was one of the best on their roster. Averaging 29.6 points per game, she even led Division I women’s basketball in scoring during her senior season. Fast forward to today: with Bluder retired, Jensen has taken the reins and is off to a strong start, leading the Hawkeyes to a 3-0 record for the 2024–2025 season.

As for Caitlin Clark, after the Hawkeyes’ win, she surprised everyone by heading to the locker room to hug Jensen and her former teammates. But the question now is: Will Bluder get to see her once-coached player lead the Hawkeyes to an NCAA championship this season? Stay tuned to find out!