IOWA CITY — The Carver-Hawkeye Arena buzzed like a hive on May 4, 2025, as Caitlin Clark, the hometown hero turned WNBA star, strutted back onto her old college court. Fans, nearly 15,000 strong, packed the stands, most decked out in Hawkeyes or Indiana Fever gear, all itching for a glimpse of their No. 22. They got more than a glimpse. Clark delivered a performance that felt like a love letter to Iowa, capped by a jaw-dropping 36-foot 3-pointer that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The game, a WNBA exhibition tilt, pitted Clark’s Fever against the Brazilian national team. It wasn’t close. Indiana steamrolled Brazil 108-44, a scoreline that barely captures the electricity in the air. Clark, who hadn’t played a competitive game in 200 days, admitted to pre-game jitters. But once the ball tipped, she was all business. She dropped 16 points in just 19 minutes, snagged six rebounds, and dished five assists. Her shooting? A crisp 6-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The night’s highlight came late in the third quarter. With 26.1 seconds left, Clark pulled up from deep—way deep—right near the court’s logo honoring her No. 22. That spot’s sacred; it’s where, as a Hawkeye senior in 2024, she sank the shot that smashed the NCAA women’s career scoring record. The ball sailed clean through the net, and the arena erupted. Fans, some who’d waited years for this moment, roared as if the clock had turned back to her college days.
Clark’s teammates weren’t slouches either. Kelsey Mitchell poured in 17 points, while Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard chipped in 11 and 10, respectively. The Fever, coming off a 20-20 season that saw them return to the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016, looked sharp. This was no ordinary exhibition. For Clark, it was a homecoming, a chance to play for the fans who’ve had her back since her high school days in West Des Moines.
Despite a minor leg injury that had locals holding their breath, Clark showed no rust. Her first bucket—a pull-up three early in the game—set the tone. She moved with the same swagger that made her a national name, threading passes and draining shots like she never left Iowa. The crowd, a sea of black, gold, and blue, hung on every move. For them, this wasn’t just a game; it was a celebration of one of their own.
The Fever now turn their focus to the regular season. They face the Atlanta Dream in a final exhibition on May 10 before opening at home against the Chicago Sky on May 17. Clark, Mitchell, and Boston, the core of last year’s playoff squad, are gearing up for a deeper run. But for one night, in a sold-out arena in Iowa City, it was all about Clark and the state that raised her.
She finished with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one unforgettable 3-pointer. The Fever won 108-44. The fans went home happy.