Austin Jordan arrived at Hertz Arena on Friday for the Gulf Coast women’s basketball tournament with only one mission in mind: catching the attention of Iowa State superstar Kaitlyn Clark.
Austin, 10, and her sister Lennon, 7, held up the Hawkeyes’ dazzling black and gold logo. Austin’s homemade placard references Gatorade’s legendary “Like Mike” advertising campaign, which centered on NBA legend Michael Jordan. It’s just that Austin crossed out Mike and replaced the name of the greatest basketball player with “Caitlin.”
“We’re so excited,” Austin said excitedly as her parents led them to seats just two rows from the court. “She’s really inspiring. Like she went from not being able to play in any women’s league to dominating college basketball. “She’s awesome. “
How to watch:What channel is Iowa State’s Caitlin Clark on?Gulf Coast women’s exhibition game times and TV schedule
Austin knows her Caitlin Clark history. When Clark was 5 years old and living in Iowa, her father had to sign her up for a boys’ recreational basketball league because there were no girls’ teams in that age group.
That’s unlikely to be an issue again, especially at Iowa, where Clark achieved legendary status after leading the Hawkeyes to the NCAA title game last year with a series of record-setting performances. In October, more than 56,000 spectators packed Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium for the Hawkeyes’ exhibition game against DePaul, breaking an NCAA women’s basketball attendance record.
There was palpable excitement for Clark’s Southwest Florida debut, with an official crowd of more than 3,300 fans at Hertz Stadium, nearly all wearing Hawkeyes logo.
Gas chromatography display:FGCU women win Gulf Coast showcase opener to face Iowa State and Caitlin Clark in semifinals
Brenna Kahler and her family always spend Thanksgiving week on Marco Island. When the Des Moines resident learned Iowa State would also be in town, she didn’t hesitate to take her daughters, Gemma, Hazel and Addison, to see Clark. Because the Hawkeyes have high ticket prices at Iowa State, where the women’s season ticket base is 13,000, 5,000 more than the men’s basketball team, it’s easier to get the Caitlin Clark Show 1,500 miles to the south ) tickets.
“I think she really brought something special to college sports, but definitely women’s basketball,” said Kahler, also a graduate of Downing Catholic High School in West Des Moines, where Clark developed into a McDonald’s All-American and Miss Iowa Basketball.
“She’s a really good player, but she’s also a great teammate,” added Gemma, 10, of Clark. “I’ve always been a Hawkeyes fan, but I’m also a huge fan of her and the rest of the team.”
Hundreds of fans were in the stands wearing Clark’s No. 22 jersey, and one seemed to get some extra basketball inspiration by winning $100 by shooting a half-court shot in a promotion after the third quarter. Iowa players, including Clark, cheered in celebration.
“I thought Caitlin was going to go out and hug her, and I really did,” Iowa coach Lisa Bruder said
Clark, who scored 29 points and dished out eight assists in her Gulf Coast Showcase debut, did not speak to the media after Friday’s game, so it’s unclear what her warm welcome to halftime or Hertz Arena will be. What do you think? However, Bluder said the team appreciated the lively crowd, noting that the show has a strong fan club in the Naples area.
“It feels so good to see those Eagles fans in Florida wearing black and gold,” she said. “It makes you feel good and people want to come out and support this team and support these women.
“I think it’s an opportunity for them to watch us play live and they really want that opportunity.”
While it’s unclear whether Clark saw Austin’s sign, the 10-year-old Miami resident did get a chance to bring it to midfield and read it aloud during halftime of the first quarter. Austin’s parents, Jonathan and Lauren Jordan, said the family had other plans for the holiday weekend but changed them for a chance to see Clark.
“When we found out she was playing within a few hundred miles of where we live, there was no question we had to come out and see her,” said Jonathan Jordan, who was wearing a Clark jersey. “The two most important people in our family right now are Taylor Swift and Kaitlynn Clark.” With Swift soon to have her chance to perform at the Hertz Arena, Clark’s performance tonight was more than enough for Austin, Lennon and Adult Thousands of other “Clarks” (young and old) provide an unforgettable evening.