Caitlin Clark showed her feelings towards Jan Jensen by responding “facts” to an Instagram post praising the new Iowa Hawkeyes coach.
Clark took the WNBA by storm in her debut season with the Indiana Fever in 2024, claiming the Rookie of the Year award and making the All-WNBA First Team. But the 22-year-old’s incredible rise was first clear to see throughout her college basketball career with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Regarded as one of the greatest collegiate players of all time thanks to her time there from 2020 to 2024, Clark still keeps in close contact with her alma mater. And the point guard voiced her opinion on the appointment of new Hawkeyes head coach Jensen this week with a simple message.
The coach who helped her become arguably the biggest name in women’s basketball, Lisa Bluder, retired from coaching at the end of last season, with Jensen stepping in to succeed the veteran. One of Jensen’s assistant coaches – Abby Emmert Stamp – dedicated a heartfelt Instagram post to the new head coach on Wednesday.
She wrote: “This woman right here is leading @iowawbb in the exact way that is right in college athletics. There is simply no one who cares about her players, staff, fans, department, and University more. Jan gives us everything she has, every single day. Jan Jensen in her best era!”
Clark simply commented underneath the post: “Facts.” Her comment comes as no surprise given how close the WNBA No. 1 draft pick remains to the university.
(Image: Getty Images)
Last week, she made a return to campus to watch the new generation of basketball players coming through. She watched a practice session alongside her former team-mates Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, where she was seen celebrating a play by running around the court.
Meanwhile, Jensen took charge of her first Hawkeyes match in an exhibition game on Wednesday at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, cementing a 110-55 victory over Missouri Western.
Jensen said afterwards: “It is really the players. (They) just did such a really fun job tonight … I could not be happier. We did what we should have done. I see a lot of great things. I see a lot of stuff you have to work on, but that is pretty normal.”
“That’s what is so cool about staying in a state you love and getting to coach where I love to coach,” Jensen added. “I grew up here and there are a lot of lifelong Hawks and probably a lot of lifelong Jan fans. They’ve just been great, that is what I will remember about tonight.”
Iowa opens up regular season play at home against Northern Illinois on Wednesday, November 6th at 6:30 p.m.
- Source: https://www.irishstar.com/sport/college-basketball/caitlin-clark-wnba-indiana-fever-34016678
