Caitlin Clark’s illustrious college basketball journey reached its conclusion on Sunday as Iowa suffered an 87–75 defeat against South Carolina in the women’s NCAA championship game. Despite falling short of securing a title victory, Clark received an outpouring of love and admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike as they celebrated her remarkable career.

Throughout her tenure, the 22-year-old captivated the nation with her stellar performances, contributing significantly to the growth and visibility of women’s college basketball. While her time with the Hawkeyes did not culminate in a championship ring, she undeniably set a new standard of excellence in the sport and shattered numerous records along the way.

Following South Carolina coach Dawn Staley’s heartfelt message to Clark during her postgame interview, expressing gratitude for her contributions to women’s basketball, the sports community echoed similar sentiments. Across social media platforms, Clark’s dominant career was lauded, highlighting her enduring impact on the sport.

Clark makes her statement:

“Yeah, it’s certainly been a special year. After last year, I was kind of like, well, how do we top doing what we did last year? Somehow, someway, every single person in our locker room believed, and to be honest, this year was probably even more special than last year,” said Clark.

“The teams we had to go through to get to this point. We won the Big Ten Tournament, we lost two players that were three-year starters for our program. And to be back in this position and come out and battle–I mean, South Carolina is so good. There’s only so much you can do.”

Even though she fell short of clinching a national championship victory for the second consecutive year, Clark emphasized the significance of her final season with her teammates.