S-N Editorial

The best season in Iowa basketball history came to a heartbreaking end Sunday in Dallas.

Hopes of a national title for the Hawkeye women came crashing down at the hands of LSU. The Black and Gold tallied 85 points in the matchup, but it was all for naught – it felt like the Tigers never missed a shot the whole game. LSU’s marksmanship sent Iowa packing with a 17-point loss and enough heartburn to last a lifetime.

The unfortunate ending doesn’t take away from Iowa’s storybook season. This team was great, and they proved that during the tournament. National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark dazzled fans and frustrated opponents en route to one of the most impression performances for either men or women in history. Her tenacious style of play and cutthroat mentality led to mind-boggling stats that are hard to grasp. Many peoples’ mouths are still on the floor ogling over her 40-point triple double against Louisville, the first of its kind in the tourney. Unbelievable doesn’t even begin to describe what she does on the court.

Hawkeye fans are lucky to have Clark, and they’re even luckier to have head coach Lisa Bluder. Since coming to Iowa City in 2000, she’s notched 17 NCAA tournament appearances and a 494–246 overall record. Along with that comes four Big 10 Tournament championships, two regular season conference championships, three Big 10 Coach of the Year awards and one Naismith College Coach of the Year Award. She’s also had two players named National Player of the Year.

Bluder’s resume is beyond stellar and she is the shining star of the University of Iowa Athletics Department. Football, men’s basketball and wrestling may get the bulk of attention when it comes to media coverage, but the women’s hoop team regularly punches above its weight class by turning in phenomenal season after phenomenal season. That’s because of Bluder and her excellent staff, and Hawkeye fans from sea to shining sea can be thankful she’s in Iowa City.

What’s next for the Hawks remains to be seen, but even the surliest of pessimists would have a hard time saying dark clouds are growing on the horizon for next season. Clark is coming back, and with this coaching staff, you have to believe that’s enough to give the Black and Gold a fighting chance for another deep tournament run next spring.

For now, even Iowa’s most bitter rivals can reflect on and appreciate what the Hawkeyes did this season. They not only drew the captive hearts of fans here in Iowa, but nationwide. Clark and Crew inspired thousands of young kids to strive for greatness and provided a role model for many to look up to. Several commentators believe the excitement of this women’s college basketball season changed the game moving forward, and the fact that Clark, Bluder and this Iowa program played a part in that is simply remarkable.