The recent game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and DePaul Blue Demons was a spectacle for many reasons. The charity exhibition for the near-by Children’s Hospital had the highest attendance of any game in NCAA women’s basketball history. With a strong 55,646 fans, it shattered the previous record of 29,619. This record was set by Connecticut and Oklahoma in the 2002 NCAA championship game at San Antonio. 

The 94-72 victory set the tone for the team’s 2023-24 season with excellent play by the Hawkeyes led by National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark. Her spectacular triple-double impressed many, including a former NBA champion. 

Impressed by the move

The charity match included impressive moves by both teams. And the one that really took the cake was Caitlin Clark. ESPNW posted video clips of the game to the Instagram handle and it caught the attention of Sacramento Kings forward, Harrison Barnes. He shared the post to his story.

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With great skill, the 21-year-old guard executed the perfect shot from the end zone. With each game, Clark is exhibiting immense potential, drawing whispers of an impending first draft into the WNBA seems imminent. Fans were expecting this in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, due to age constraints, she has to spend another year in college before joining the big league. 

History made, for a good cause

The Crossover at Kinnick was the first-ever women’s basketball game played outdoors in a football stadium. Speaking on it coach Lisa Bluder said, “You know, you can have an idea and it could fall flat if nobody shows up,” Bluder said. “But, man, Hawk fans showed up today. Fifty-five thousand, breaking the record, getting to play outside … It was a dream…. just fabulous.” 

“Fifty-five thousand? That’s pretty incredible,” said Iowa guard Caitlin Clark. She put up a triple-double of 34 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. “It’s hard to kind of imagine yourself playing basketball in front of 55,000.” 

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All players and coaches from both teams also participated with the crowd in “The Wave”. It is a tradition of fans at the stadium waving to young patients and their families who are watching games through the windows at the adjacent Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The proceeds of the game, with a check for $250,000, was presented to the hospital during the break in the game. 

Bluder also spoke on playing for a noble cause by saying, “Before the game I just talked to them about this being a historic day for us. How we were playing for more than just ourselves. Playing for the university, fighting for the Children’s Hospital. We just talked about playing for everybody else and not for ourselves.”

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