Caitlin Clark has been on a basketball-watching spree this week. For the third straight day, she was back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, catching the team she once led to three Big Ten titles. And while it seemed like they might snag another even in the post-Clark era, unfortunately, Hawkeyes women couldn’t. It’s officially the end of Hawkeyes’ 11-game winning streak in this tourney, covering three straight titles. But while Iowa’s day ended in heartbreak, Clark made sure someone else left with a smile.

Before swinging in for this one, CC had already seen the Hawkeyes take down Michigan State 74-61 on Thursday and Wisconsin 81-54 on Wednesday. And she was back again for Iowa’s big matchup against Ohio State, sitting courtside as her former squad fought for a spot in the semifinals. Sure, she wasn’t on the court, but she made sure to be all pumped up from the sidelines. We could see her shouting, calling out refs, celebrating- all from the stands. 

However, in the quarterfinals,  here’s the moment that had fans talking. An eyewitness took to Twitter to talk about it. According to him, as Clark made her way through the tunnel, she spotted a little girl who looked absolutely crushed by the game’s outcome. And in classic CC fashion, she didn’t just walk by. Nope. She handed the little fan what looked like a bracelet, instantly flipping her frown upside down. 

The kid was beaming, showing it off to anyone who’d look. “Caitlin Clark is the best,” the user wrote. 

Meanwhile, Iowa’s night didn’t end as brightly. The Hawkeyes fell just short, losing 60-59 to Ohio State, marking an early exit from the Big Ten tournament. But man, this one was tough to swallow for Iowa. Another nail-biter, another one-possession loss—fifth of the season, sixth if you count that overtime heartbreaker at Ohio State last month. 

The Hawkeyes fought hard and had its chances. A late 9-1 run put them ahead 59-58 after Sydney Affolter buried a clutch three with just over a minute left. But then, Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon knocked down two free throws, and that was all she wrote.

Obviously, the finish had plenty of drama. With 0.7 seconds left, Iowa got one last shot after the Buckeyes tipped the ball out of bounds. Lucy Olsen found Hannah Stuelke for a clean 12-footer—but it rimmed out. Just brutal.

Speaking of Stuelke, she, Affolter, and Olsen all dropped 14 points, but Iowa’s offense just wasn’t clicking. They missed a ton of layups. Defense ruled the night, with eight lead changes and nine ties keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Now, Iowa heads home to reset before Selection Sunday on March 16. And the Hawkeye Nation is left with feeling the absence of their legend once again. But you know what? CC misses this just as much.

Caitlin Clark misses march madness 

Caitlin Clark and Iowa had sports fans locked in over the past two college basketball seasons, making back-to-back runs to the national championship game. And while Clark has moved on to the bright lights of the WNBA, her Hawkeyes were still making noise in the Big Ten Tournament. 

They fought hard, picked up two solid wins, but ultimately fell- right in front of their former superstar, who was in attendance soaking it all in. Naturally, the Big Ten Network wasn’t going to miss the chance to catch up with Clark.

 She gave her thoughts on watching Iowa from the sidelines, and, well, she made it pretty clear—being a fan is fun, but nothing beats playing in March. “I love this time of the year, March, I miss it,” Clark admitted. And honestly every Iowa fan watching probably felt the same way.  

She also had plenty of love for her former teammates and first-year head coach Jan Jensen, who stepped in after Lisa Bluder’s retirement. Clark praised Jensen’s competitive fire and the way she’s kept Iowa’s culture strong. 

“Obviously, a lot of these girls were my teammates, and getting to see Jan in her first year and they’re playing their best basketball,” she said. Clark may not be leading the charge anymore, but it’s clear she still takes pride in the program she helped build.  

For now, Caitlin Clark has to settle for being a spectator. But if you’ve seen her antics, you know she’s not just sitting quietly in the crowd. She is as visible as ever—just in a different role.