What do you get when you mix former Iowa Hawkeye legends, shiny championship rings, and a crowd that can’t stop cheering? A weekend so packed with bling and basketball nostalgia that even Kinnick Stadium couldn’t handle all the excitement.
Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin—aka two-thirds of Iowa’s unstoppable backcourt—returned to their alma mater to flex not just their basketball skills but their new hardware. That’s right, after a historic run to the Final Four and claiming the Big Ten Tournament title last season, these two were finally handed their sparkly reminders of glory in front of thousands of Hawkeye fans.
And naturally, Iowa’s women’s basketball team wasted no time taking to X (formerly Twitter) with a perfectly timed caption: “Ring ‘em 💍.” We see what you did there, Iowa. Social media flex game: strong.
But this wasn’t just any ring ceremony—it was Homecoming weekend, people. The energy was sky-high, with Clark, Martin, and their sidekick-in-legendary-status, Gabbie Marshall, basking in the spotlight. With championship rings in hand and giant smiles on their faces, the trio relived those sweet memories of buzzer-beaters, sold-out arenas, and sending opposing teams home in tears.
Of course, the fun didn’t stop at rings. Iowa’s women’s basketball team got another big moment of love during the Iowa-Northwestern football game the next day. With a jam-packed Kinnick Stadium cheering them on, Clark and Martin were interviewed live, giving everyone an extra dose of the feels.
Martin, now with the Las Vegas Aces, took a minute to shout out Hawkeye Nation. “The support was unreal,” she said, and yeah, we believe it. When you make it to the Final Four, Hawkeye Nation knows how to show up.
But here’s where the real fun comes in: Clark, now tearing it up in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, had a playful jab when asked about playing against her old teammate Martin. The Aces swept the Fever all four times this season, and Clark’s reaction? Pure sarcasm. “Well, minus the four times I lost to Kate, pretty good,” she quipped. Ouch. But hey, what are best friends for if not to hand you an “L” on the court?
This reunion wasn’t just about rings and laughs, though. It’s a reminder of the powerhouse team that brought Iowa basketball to the forefront of the national conversation. With Clark draining threes from another time zone, Martin doing it all with her under-the-radar brilliance, and Marshall locking down defenses, this trio made Hawkeye history.
But now, with these stars off to their post-college adventures, the big question is: Can Iowa keep their momentum going this season? As the team gears up for their exhibition game on October 30 against Missouri Western, all eyes will be on how the new-look Hawkeyes stack up without their three icons.
One thing’s for sure, though—whether it’s on the court, off the court, or at a Homecoming ring ceremony, the legacy of this squad is going to shine for a long time. Just like those rings.
