Caitlin Clark might play her final game in her hometown on Saturday afternoon. The 21-year-old women’s college basketball superstar will return home to Des Moines to face Cleveland State.
It is going to be a special homecoming for an Iowa legend with a decision to make.
Caitlin Clark, from West Des Moines, will make the 115-mile trek down I-80 West with the Hawkeyes for a neutral site matchup at Wells Fargo Arena. The whole city is going to show out for her return, including countless family members and friends. They will get to see her play at a place where she had some iconic performances while starring for Dowling Catholic.
Many schools have made a point to get their stars back home in recent years. Indiana traveled to Maine for McKenzie Holmes. LSU will play in Baltimore for Angel Reese. Paige Bueckers returned to Minnesota with UConn last month.
In this case, Iowa does not have to go far.
And it serves as more than just a trip for Clark!
Even though the sold-out crowd will be dominated by black and gold, playing at Wells Fargo Arena is considered to be a neutral site matchup. Assuming that the Hawkeyes win, by not playing at home, it will be ranked as a Quad 2 win instead of a Quad 3 win.
It’s a fun opportunity to get Caitlin back to Des Moines in her senior year. It’s a win-win, playing on a neutral court in a game that will help our NET ranking.
— Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder
It may also be Clark’s final game in Des Moines!
The WNBA does not play games in the state of Iowa. If Clark decides to go pro and play for the Indiana Fever, she will not get another opportunity to play in front of a literal hometown crowd.
On the flip side, there is an opportunity to get back home during the 2024/25 season. Should Clark choose to stay in college for another year, Iowa will play at Drake in Des Moines, as they did during her freshman and junior seasons.
Could one final game in her hometown next year get Clark to stay?