Yes, Caitlin Clark, you brought Iowa Hawkeyes fans immeasurable joy

Caitlin Clark gave absolutely everything for the Iowa women’s basketball program this season.

Few players will match the run she had during this NCAA Tournament for the Hawkeyes, breaking countless records and genuinely becoming an ambassador for the women’s game. Through her fantastic stretch of performances, the National Player of the Year introduced women’s basketball to a new audience. This NCAA Tournament experienced ratings like no other, the entire sports world was dazzled and amazed at her long-range shooting and passing abilities.

Though Iowa would lose in the national championship to LSU 102-85, no one will ever be able to take away the season that Clark just had. For Clark though, she wants her legacy to go much further than the plain stats and great performances that she put up in recent weeks. In a tearful postgame interview, Caitlin Clark managed some truly inspiring words.

“I want my legacy to be the impact that I can have on young kids and the people in the state of Iowa, and I hope I brought them a lot of joy this season. I hope this team brought them a lot of joy. I understand we came up one win short, but I think we have a lot to be proud of and a lot to celebrate. I was just that young girl, so all you have to do is dream, and you can be in moments like this,” Clark said afterwards.

Yes, Caitlin, you did bring us all a lot of joy. The entire Iowa women’s basketball team gave all of Hawkeye Nation something to cheer for. No matter what was going wrong in the real world, going wrong in our own personal lives, Iowa was able to make things better this year. For four quarters, Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, and everyone else were going to make you forget about life for a while and have fun.

Everything about this team, this season, was fun. There was never a dull moment. From Clark’s triple-double watches to Czinano’s dribble tracker, this team had the little quirks that endeared itself to us. No one will ever forget the big moments these girls brought us this year, from the buzzer-beater against Indiana to dethroning South Carolina.

It can be hard after losing the big one to look at the big picture and truly appreciate the ride you were just on. I know this very well, with the Eagles, Phillies, and Union all losing in their respective championships this year.

I think Caitlin Clark’s postgame comments are extremely important, and help us all take that step back and look at the bigger picture. We are lucky to have Clark as a part of this team, lucky to have this entire squad of women.

Thank you, Iowa women’s basketball. It’s been a heck of a season. Can’t wait to do it again next year!

More!

Hawkeye fans' incredible support on display during national championship game

Hawkeye fans celebrate magical Iowa run, thank Clark-Czinano tandem

Takeaways as Iowa falls to LSU in the Women's NCAA championship game

Twitter reacts to questionable officiating in Iowa's national championship loss

Iowa will have to overcome these LSU stats to become national champions

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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire