After a whirlwind year that saw her become one of the most talked-about athletes in America, Caitlin Clark is officially returning to where it all began —and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
The Indiana Fever’s highly anticipated preseason game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena is expected to be a celebration, a reunion, and a test—all wrapped up in one scorching sold-out night. And no one knows what to expect… least of all, Caitlin herself.
“Honestly, I’m not back in Iowa City,” Clark said this week with a smile.
“So it’ll be fun to come back, see my old teammates, see some friends… and probably sweat a lot.”
She’s not kidding. There’s no air conditioning in Carver-Hawkeye.
It’s preseason only. But try telling that to the more than 15,000 fans who have already secured their seats. For many of them, this may be their only chance to see Clark in person now that she’s playing professionally.
“It’s not just a game,” one local fan said. “It’s a thank you.”
A thank you to the athlete who brought sold-out arenas and national titles to Iowa women’s basketball. A thank you to the player who turned Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a fortress , and now returns not as a college, but as a global icon.
For Clark, the return brings a mixture of excitement and surrealism.
“It should be fun. I can’t believe it’s already here,” she said.
“I’ve only been back a few times – once for a football game and once for my Jersey retreat.”
This time, she’s not looking. She’s playing.
The setting: His old home court .
The stakes: A symbolic bridge between his collegiate legend and his professional rise.
And the emotions? Running high—for everyone.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White is no stranger to high-stakes games in Midwestern college towns. But even she admitted this return carries a unique weight.
“I think it’s going to be really cool for Caitlin,” White said.
“When I was with the fever, we played an exhibition at Purdue and it was surreal for me. It will be the same for her.”
The only wrinkle?
“I didn’t know there was no air conditioning,” she laughed.
“We’ll have to work through this and stay hydrated.”
Still, White sees the bigger picture: the chance to bring WNBA-level basketball to fans who might not otherwise witness it live. Especially those who have watched Caitlin’s entire journey from day one.
If Clark is sweating the lack of air conditioning, she doesn’t show it—though she jokes about it in her lighthearted tone.
“I hope it stays a little cool in there,” she said.
“People who go to graduation ceremonies at Carver always say it gets toasty. So yeah… we’ll see.”
But the reality is, it won’t just be a warm gym – it will be emotionally overwhelming.
Former teammates will be in the stands. Childhood friends. Family. Coaches.
Even those who guarded her in practice now plan to watch her from the front row with awe .
The atmosphere should be more like a championship night than a pre-season scrimmage.
Sophie Cunningham: “They ended my career there…”
Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham is also gearing up for the Iowa trip – and she has her own complicated history with Carver-Hawkeye.
“Actually… they ended my career there,” she said with a smile, referring to her final college game as a Missouri Tiger.
“But I’m not salty. I’m from Iowa, everything’s fine!”
What’s exciting, though, is seeing firsthand what Caitlin has built – and how Iowa fans are rallying behind women’s basketball in unprecedented ways.
“They’re just good people. Especially in a college town like Iowa City,” Cunningham said.
“They really get behind someone great like Caitlin. You can feel that energy.”
She added that being back in the Midwest, even for one night, makes her feel like coming home.
Although Clark hasn’t been a hotshot for long, his presence has already transformed the franchise. Ticket sales are up. National attention is growing. And his return to Iowa is drawing even more fire.
Around Iowa City this week, residents have reported bumping into players, asking for autographs, snapping selfies – but the buzz is centered on one person.
“No missed connections yet,” Clark said.
“But a lot of people are saying, ‘Hey, we’re ready for fever season.’ And I love that.”
His teammates also felt the wave.
“You walk around town, and people just say, ‘You’re with Caitlin, right?’” said one assistant coach.
“They don’t even ask for names. They smile and are supportive.”
What Caitlin Clark represents now goes far beyond jump shots and stat sheets.
She is a symbol of momentum – for the WNBA , for women’s sports , and for Iowa .
His presence at Carver-Hawkeye this week brings that full circle. Not just as a player, but as a force. One who has already rewritten the rules of popularity in a once-ignored sport.
The fever may play an exhibition. But Iowa fans come for a reunion, a moment, and maybe even a farewell.
Or maybe… a new beginning.
As Tipoff approaches, Carver-Hawkeye Arena will swell with more than noise—it will be filled with gratitude.
This is Caitlin Clark’s arena . This is where she became a legend.
Now she’s not coming back as a college kid, but as a pro, a brand, and a tag team.
And in a gym without air conditioning, there is only one thing guaranteed :
The warmth it brings? It won’t come from the weather.
