IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark’s return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena featured the same sound as a jet engine at takeoff. Then it got even louder.
The Iowa icon brought the Indiana Fever to her alma mater for a game against the Brazilian National Team, and the pregame introduction nearly blew her retired No. 22 jersey off the rafters at 116 decibels. When she knocked down the game’s first 3-pointer, it reached 117, and the roar didn’t fade nearly as much as the game’s competitiveness throughout the first half.
The Beatles return to Liverpool.
This is about 80 minutes before tipoff. pic.twitter.com/ZQAnY6dx89— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) May 4, 2025
The Fever (2-0 in the preseason) took a 70-24 halftime lead and coasted to a 108-44 victory. Clark didn’t play in the Fever’s win against the Washington Mystics on Saturday while nursing tightness in her lower left leg. But there was no way she was going to miss this game at the location where she set the NCAA scoring record.
Tickets for this exhibition sold out in 24 minutes and average prices soared to $440, more than any of Clark’s games at Iowa or with the Fever, according to Victory Live. And fans packed the arena 90 minutes before tipoff.
Caitlin Clark signs autographs before an exhibition game between the Indiana Fever and the Brazil national team Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo: Matthew Holst / Getty Images)
“I didn’t expect anything else,” Clark said. “That’s exactly what I would have expected from them. And once I leave college, I’m still going to be a Hawkeye. I really appreciate their support, and I’m sure they’ve come to love a lot of my teammates.”
While the crowd’s enthusiasm for Clark was unsurpassed, their cheers for other Fever players nearly registered the same sound. Following Clark’s first triple, Kelsey Mitchell’s 3-pointer hit 116 decibels. DeWanna Bonner’s 3-pointer: 112 decibels. It didn’t matter that Mitchell played at rival Ohio State and scored 27 points in her last Carver-Hawkeye appearance. The fans have converted to the Fever.
Caitlin Clark from DEEPER than her 22 logo on the floor at Carver-Hawkeye Arena 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WMy1xAVPcV
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 4, 2025
Clark gave the Iowa faithful one lasting moment late in the third quarter. About 3 feet behind her floor “22” logo where she drilled a 33-foot 3-pointer to set the NCAA Division I scoring record, Clark unleashed another 3-pointer that touched nothing but net. Clark turned to the scorer’s table and pointed, and the fans rose in unison. When she made her way to the Indiana bench, she first lifted her thumbs, then made heart hands and finally raised her hands with a “Let’s Go!” The fans reciprocated in loud applause.
Playing less than 19 minutes overall and sitting for the fourth quarter, Clark scored 16 points, one shy of Mitchell for the team high.
(Photo: Julia Hansen / Iowa City Press-Citizen via Imagn Images)