The crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena erupted as Caitlin Clark, donning the Indiana Fever jersey, stepped onto the court for the first time in 222 days. The Fever rookie Clark made her much-awaited return to Iowa—it was a moment of homecoming, hope, and deeply-rooted ties.
On a night characterized by deafening roars and the Fever’s dominant 108–44 win against the Brazilian National Team, the heartfelt words from retired Iowa teammate Jada Gyamfi captured the emotional pulse of the night.
Caitlin Clark’s Triumphant Homecoming Draws Reaction From Gyamfi
It had been over 200 days since Clark last donned a No. 22 jersey in Iowa City, and her return was nothing short of cinematic. As the Fever stormed to a 108–44 preseason win, Clark finished with a balanced stat line—16 points, six rebounds, and clinching five assists—reminding fans exactly why she became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer at Iowa.
The game, part of a WNBA initiative to connect stars with their collegiate roots, drew a roaring crowd of 15,500 Hawkeyes, setting the stage for more exhibitions in non-WNBA markets.
In the aftermath, Gyamfi—now in her junior season for Iowa—took to Instagram with a message that resonated far beyond the stat sheet, “My people for always – nothing makes me happier than getting to support you 22.”
Those eight words, shared with over 14,000 likes, underscored the deep friendship forged between the two athletes during their back-to-back national title runs for the Hawkeyes. Gyamfi further added, “Blessed to be a small part of your greatness, cheers to another great season!”
Gyamfi’s message wasn’t merely a nod to Clark’s on-court performance. It was an affirmation of their friendship that has only deepened over the years. The two played side by side as Iowa clinched consecutive national titles back in the day.
During 2022-24, Clark and Gyamfi played together on the court for legendary Coach Lisa Bluder, leading Iowa to back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles. During that stretch, Clark won consensus National Player of the Year honors on two occasions, while Gyamfi went about her business under the radar and added some veteran steadiness during the 2024-25 season.
A 6′1″ Forward from Johnston, Iowa, Gyamfi made her impact last season in limited minutes, showing impressive stretches, while impressing as an excellent practice player, with her work ethic and infectious enthusiasm shining through. As a junior, she played in 11 games, averaging 1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds per game, scoring a career best seven points on Dec. 2, 2024, against Bowling Green.
Clark and the Fever Gear Up To Face Chicago Sky
With the regular season opener against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky set for May 17, expectations are sky-high for Clark and Indiana. As head coach Stephanie White builds around her rookie phenom, the league watches to see if the Fever can parlay these exhibitions into genuine championship contention.
Meanwhile, Clark’s return to Iowa will long be remembered not only for the highlight-reel plays but for the simple, sincere support from the people who know her best, like Jada Gyamfi.
As Caitlin Clark continues to shine on the professional stage, the support from her Iowa family remains a constant source of strength and motivation.