Amid the backdrop of a surprising 76-69 Iowa upset of No. 4 USC, it took almost 10 minutes to clear the floor of students who joined the Hawkeyes in a celebration. USC’s players and coaches decided to stay on their bench during the ceremony honoring Clark, which was something the Trojans had planned no matter what the outcome.

The greatest Hawkeye of them all had her No. 22 jersey hoisted to the rafters forever, and the ceremony almost became a footnote to the game that preceded it. With Caitlin Clark and her family sitting 11 rows from the floor,

While Caitlin Clark and her past were honored Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, this unforgettable day was also about the future.