Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague has revealed the surprising amount of revenue Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes brought in during the 2023 season.
The Hawkeyes fell short in the national championship game for the second year in a row, having lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks in Sunday’s final, but it was quite a ride for the team and its fans.
Caitlin Clark (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
The game also marked Clark’s final college outing as she’s headed to the WNBA after four seasons in the WNBA. She’s set to leave the Hawkeyes, having helped make a remarkable contribution, with Teague disclosing that the team generated $82 million throughout the campaign, per Rivals beat writer Eliot Clough.
Iowa’s games at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena sold out throughout the season even with ticket prices increasing considerably. Clearly, folks were very happy to pay.
Iowa city mayor Bruce Teague says the women's basketball team added $82.5M to the local economy 💰
(h/t @EliotClough
) pic.twitter.com/9eTc2DXFiD— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 11, 2024
Caitlin has left a significant impression on Iowa while the rest of the country is paying attention, as everyone’s intrigued by the prospect of her playing in the pros.
The Iowa Hawkeyes Are Retiring Caitlin Clarke’s No. 22 Jersey
Meanwhile, the Iowa Hawkeyes are handing Caitlin Clark a going-away present in the form of a retired jersey number.
The 22-year-old is getting her No. 22 jersey retired and will be only the third Iowa player to receive such an honor.
“We always knew your jersey would be hanging in the rafters. It is a privilege for me to now make that official,” athletic director Beth Goetz said at an end-of-season event at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this week. “You will be the last to wear No. 22.”
“It’s super incredible, something I’m very thankful for,” Clark said. “That number holds a lot of weight, far beyond me. I’m really grateful, and it will be a special day when it happens.”
Clark is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever later this month.
