Grassley Statement for the Congressional Record Honoring Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Basketball

 

On behalf of the Hawkeye State, I am proud to congratulate the Iowa Women’s Basketball team for a historic run in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. All season long, the Hawkeyes played before sellout crowds at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Fans from across the state got swept up in the adrenaline rush of remarkable athleticism and a fast-paced offense that delivered high-scoring games and thrilling victories throughout the regular season, from the home court buzzer beater against second- ranked Indiana on February 26 to bringing home the hardware on March 5 from the Big 10 Championship game at “Carver North” at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

 

Leading the team to its fifth Big 10 Conference Tournament title, Iowa’s homegrown guard Caitlin Clark wowed the world all season long, setting the bar higher and higher and delivering one of many historic firsts yet to come in post-season play, namely the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA tournament history. Only after, the West Des Moines native and stellar student-athlete from Dowling Catholic High School registered the third triple-double in Big 10 tournament history, the first time ever in the championship game. Clark’s phenomenal ability to connect with teammates in transition, net three pointers from half court and score lay-ups and jumpers while being double-teamed captured the attention of the entire country. From one game to the next, Clark’s trademark ability to swish a basket from the logo mesmerizes spectators, bewilders the defense and opens up opportunities for her teammates to shine. A sensational athlete, Clark earned player of the year from multiple outlets this season.

 

Throughout the thrilling contests during Iowa’s deep run in the NCAA tournament, Hawkeye fans from around the world and across the state of Iowa were thrilled with pride to be along for the ride. The journey began at home on St. Patrick’s Day with a resounding win over Southeastern Louisiana 95-48. In the second round, the Hawkeyes beat Georgia 74-66 before a sellout crowd in Iowa City before advancing to the Sweet 16 against Colorado and on to face Louisville in the Elite Eight at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The spellbinding teamwork the Iowa Hawkeyes brought to the court broke attendance records for Women’s NCAA tournament regional play as they locked in 87-77 and 97-83 victories, respectively, to punch their ticket to the Final Four at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Next up, a contest against the defending champion South Carolina, who was on a 42-game winning streak. In a spectacular upset on Friday, March 31, the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a spot in the national championship game with a 77-73 victory over the Gamecocks.

 

The electrifying victories and hard-fought contests during the 2022/23 season made household names of Hawkeye starters Caitlin Clark, Monica Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, McKenna Warnock, and Kate Martin, led by an outstanding coaching team captained by Head Coach Lisa Bluder and Associate Head Coach Jan Jensen, both homegrown products of Iowa women’s basketball. I’m proud to share an alma mater with Coach Bluder, where she earned her way into the Panther record books at the University of Northern Iowa. Widely respected as work horses through their high school and collegiate careers, this dynamic coaching team has built a program for the ages that will inspire and attract future basketball players for years to come. 

 

With nearly 10 million viewers for the championship game against the LSU Tigers, this historic match-up offered both teams their first opportunity in program history to bring home the national title. It was the most-watched women’s basketball game in history. If what’s past is prologue, the sellout crowds and record-breaking TV ratings will continue.

 

This magical season started at home on November 7, continuing with an exhilarating run through March Madness all the way to April 2, taking the Iowa Hawkeyes to the second Final Four in program history and its first appearance in the NCAA title game. The electrifying ride unified our state, even coalescing fans with die-hard rivalries in their bloodstreams. To be sure, I watched every minute and couldn’t take my eyes off the game when the Hawkeyes were playing. Iowans cloaked themselves in Black and Gold to cheer for the Hawkeyes and women’s basketball on the national stage.

 

Although the final score in the championship game didn’t deliver the victory the coaches and players worked their tails off to bring home, the state of Iowa, the University of Iowa and future generations of players received a priceless victory from this extraordinary season. The Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball team made Iowa proud. This team has earned a place in our hearts and we can’t wait to watch and cheer for you next season and for generations to come. On behalf of the Hawkeye State, I congratulate you for an outstanding season that made history, put all eyes on Iowa, and catapulted women’s basketball to soaring new heights on the horizon and beyond. Go Hawks.

 

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