It was a night of passion, intensity, and a little bit of controversy as the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a 74-61 victory over No. 24 Michigan State on 7th March. But while the win advanced the Hawkeyes to the quarterfinals, it was a moment on the sidelines that had everyone talking—one that even Iowa legend Caitlin Clark couldn’t ignore.

During the third quarter, head coach Jan Jensen found herself in hot water with the officials. It all began when she protested a charge call against forward Hannah Stuelke. What else do you expect? With 7:10 remaining in the period, the referees hit Jensen with a technical foul, her first of the season.

Up until that point, the game had been a nail-biter. Iowa clung to a narrow 39-37 lead, but Michigan State capitalized on the momentum shift, surging ahead 46-41. It was a moment that could have unraveled the Hawkeyes, but instead, they regrouped and stormed back to claim their 4th consecutive win.

While Jensen’s technical was a defining moment, the reaction from Caitlin Clark made it even more noteworthy. Clark, who was in attendance to support her alma mater, was fully engaged from the sidelines. When asked during a courtside interview as she returned to watch Iowa play Ohio State, she didn’t hold back about Jensen’s fiery reaction and subsequent technical.

“Unacceptable,” Clark said with a smirk. “No, I honestly thought she might have been getting ejected because she kept going, but I loved it. I love that fiery competitive spirit, and I know it got the girls fired up, too. They responded well to it.”

It was a classic Clark response—blunt, honest, and with just enough humor to lighten the moment. But she wasn’t done there. With a knowing grin, she added, “I had that taken care of for Coach J and Coach Bluder when I was playing”. Indeed. But now, at Indiana, it seems like it’s more a case of “like coach, like player.”

This saga of saying “unacceptable” to events surrounding fouls isn’t new, and perhaps Clark picked it up from when she was on the receiving side of it. Last year, in June, the Indiana coach was livid over a shoulder shot that the refs called an away-from-the-ball foul. And the Fever coach could be heard calling it “unacceptable” post-game.

Anyway, there is no doubt that she meant every word she said. “They didn’t have to get any, so they have to get them now. Coach J has to get them now, but I just love her competitive spirit, and she’s done a great job with the program, so it’s fun to watch,” added the Indiana Fever star. Well, there is a reason why the reporter began by calling her “animated”. Remember how she looked when she slapped a stanchion in frustration and could not believe she got a foul over that? 

As one chapter closed with the departure of the Indiana Fever star, known for speaking out against questionable fouls, another began for Iowa, now under the guidance of first-year head coach Jan Jensen. And Clark is just loving it!

Hawkeyes show grit in the post-Clark era

Jensen, Bluder’s trusted assistant for decades, hasn’t shied away from the challenge. She knew this season would come with growing pains, especially after losing Clark and a senior-heavy class. “Any time you lose a very senior-heavy class, there’s just a gap for a while,” Jensen admitted. “I don’t care how great that freshman class coming in is; there’s no speedy trick for experience. You just have to go through it. You just have to fall on your face a few times. You have to make a few mistakes, get some glorious moments.”

Iowa has done exactly that. This season, the Hawkeyes battled inconsistency, dropping more conference games than in the last two seasons combined. But they never backed down, proving time and again that they weren’t going to be an afterthought in the Big Ten.

Even Caitlin Clark, now lighting up the WNBA, knows it well. She recently praised the Hawkeyes for their relentless effort, smart play, and tight-knit chemistry, saying, “They just play hard, and I think if you watch, you can tell how good of a team they are. They’re always making the right plays… They’re just a group of 15 girls that are just really well-connected.”

And honestly? She’s absolutely right. Even without Clark leading the way, this Iowa squad has proven they’re more than just a team adjusting to life after a superstar—they’re a unit. Take their Big Ten Tournament run as proof. Against No. 24 Michigan State, the Hawkeyes delivered a statement win, 74-61, led by Lucy Olsen’s 21 points. She sealed the victory in the final minute with an assist to Kylie Feuerbach for a clutch corner three.

Hannah Stuelke put up a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, while Taylor McCabe drilled four three-pointers to add 12 points. Freshman Ava Heiden came off the bench and gave Iowa a spark with 11 points.

Michigan State had the upper hand early, but a dominant 16-0 second-quarter run, fueled by Stuelke, turned the game around. The Spartans clawed back in the third quarter, but Iowa’s depth and relentless defense—forcing 24 turnovers—proved too much.

The win marked Iowa’s 11th straight conference tournament victory and secured a quarterfinal matchup against powerhouse No. 8-ranked Ohio State. Then came the gut-wrenching moment. The underdog Hawkeyes pushed Ohio State to the absolute limit but fell just short, losing 60-59 in the final seconds.

Hannah Stuelke led the charge with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Sydney Affolter and Lucy Olsen each added 14 points. Affolter hit clutch threes late in the game to give Iowa the lead, but a pair of Ohio State free throws with under seven seconds left proved to be the difference.

Now, they wait- to shine again and live up to the star’s confidence in them.