You know when someone from your hometown or region makes it big, even if you don’t know them personally, there’s this sense of pride and belonging kicks in? It’s like, “Yeah, they made it, and they’re ours!” That’s the exact feeling all of Iowa has for Caitlin Clark. Before becoming the NCAA all-time top scorer and before she turned into the ‘golden goose’ of the WNBA, she was just an Iowa girl. And Iowa has been proudly cheering her on from the start.

American basketball coach Kim Mulkey summed it up perfectly as she recently praised Caitlin’s impact on the game. Reflecting on their playoff matchups, Mulkey said, “I can’t describe it firsthand, having played her two years in a row in the playoffs. She’s a generational talent. She’s a young lady, that you just can’t take your eyes off when you watch her play. And I know all of Iowa is proud of her, as they should be.”

As per NCHstats, Iowa’s population has grown to 3.21 million in 2024, and Caitlin’s success has connected every corner of it. The LSU coach added, describing how amazing of an athlete CC is, “When we played her in the playoffs this year, I said, thank goodness I don’t have to see you anymore. And that’s about as high a compliment as I can pay a young lady.”

This takes us and probably to the Lady Tigers’ HC to the Elite Eight matchup. We would like to believe the memory of that game is the reason she’s so relieved not to face the 23-year-old anymore. She put on a show that everyone will remember Iowa’s win over LSU in the Elite Eight.

Clark put up 41 points and 12 assists, including 9 three-pointers. In the rematch of last year’s national championship, Clark took over in the third quarter, breaking multiple records. She broke a record for most career 3-pointers in NCAA Division I women’s basketball with 538, passing Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson. She needs to get to the All-Star to face Stephen Curry. 

And this was just one of the many records she was shattering. LSU coach Kim Mulkey couldn’t help but say, “Nobody else seems to be able to guard her.” The viewership numbers were just as impressive as Clark’s performance. The game drew 12.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever. 

Then, she transitioned to the pro and had what could only be called a historic rookie season. It’s no surprise Caitlin Clark’s impact goes far beyond Iowa. But her state will always be the first to claim her. But here’s the thing that doesn’t add up. 

The Iowa we didn’t expect, Caitlin Clark Effect reversed 

While Iowa celebrates Caitlin Clark’s rise to basketball royalty, the state faces a sad reality. Instead of seeing an uptick in girls’ basketball participation, November reports say the numbers are actually going down. Five high schools in Iowa—Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Sibley-Ocheyedan, West Sioux, Central City, and Charles City—decided not to field varsity girls’ basketball teams this year.

What’s the reason? Well, a lot of it comes down to a sharp decline in the number of girls signing up to play basketball. These schools either didn’t have enough players or were left with underclassmen who weren’t ready to compete at the varsity level. 

As Adelynn Howell, a sophomore from Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, shared, “Basketball has always been an important part of my life. And served as an outlet for me.” You can tell this loss has hit hard. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) has confirmed the trend, showing about 300 fewer girls participating in basketball than five years ago. 

It’s a worrying statistic, and it’s not just basketball. Other sports like football and baseball are seeing declines, too. But, in basketball, the issue seems a little more complicated. It’s hard to believe it’s the same state that gave birth to such a generational talent. Iowa has a rich legacy of producing basketball stars, and let’s hope that doesn’t stop with Caitlin Clark.