On a frigid February morning, the heart of Carver-Hawkeye Arena pulsed like it was March. Iowa had just stunned No. 4 USC, snapping their 15-game win streak. The fans roared, the band played, but the loudest moment of the day came not from a basket, but from the rafters, as Caitlin Clark’s iconic No. 22 rose skyward. But just days before that emotional crescendo, something quietly remarkable happened behind the scenes. Clark, in true Hawkeye fashion, slipped back onto the practice court—not as Caitlin the legend, but Caitlin the practice buddy, channeling her inner JuJu Watkins to help Iowa prepare for battle.
“Well, it was fun,” said Jan Jensen, in an interview with OnIowa Live. “You know, Caitlin, you know, we keep in touch, obviously, and text each other when you see something fun or something great happens, or just need some encouragement both ways.”
As it appears, 10 Days before Iowa was set to face Watkins and the Trojans, Clark sent a text that caught Jensen off guard. “‘Hey, do you want me to practice?’ And I said, don’t tease me, you know,” Jensen recalled. “She’s like, no, for real… it’ll help me get in shape… I could be JuJu.” And then, Jensen didn’t hesitate: “I said, heck yeah.”
What a cool story Jan tells when Caitlin came back to Iowa City for the Iowa vs USC game. The impact it had on the freshman and Lucy Olsen. CC offering to play the role of JuJu for the practice. Such respect to USC for staying during CC’s retirement ceremony. pic.twitter.com/iPkzXHf44q
— ericaf455 (@ericaf455) April 22, 2025
The moment was more than nostalgic—it was a strategic masterstroke, only made possible because of a change to NCAA bylaw 14.2.1.6, in 2018, which now allows former student-athletes to practice on an occasional basis with their former programmes. It was a loophole Jensen happily leaned into. She kept it quiet—didn’t even tell her current players until the night before.
“By the way, we’ve got an extra practice player tomorrow,” she told them. “It’s going to be Caitlin.”
The room froze. Then came the electricity.
When Clark walked into practice the next day, it wasn’t just a workout. It was a spark. Drilling 40-foot threes, cutting with purpose, lifting everyone’s game by sheer presence—Clark’s return lit the gym like it was still 2023. Players who had watched her dominate for years now had to guard her.
“It was really fun for Lucy Olsen,” Jensen said. “Lucy told me afterwards, she’s like, that was awesome. She’s like, I was so nervous, but it was so awesome. So you forget, right? I mean, Caitlin is Caitlin and it resonates. That was really, really fun.”
In an interview with Racheal D’Amita days later, Olsen grinned as she confirmed it: “Caitlin practiced with us, I think that day or the day before, so that was cool.”
And cool turned out to be crucial. On Feb. 2, Iowa rode the emotion of a sellout 14,998 crowd and shocked USC 76-69. They opened with an 18-1 run and later survived a brutal counterattack from the Trojans. Olsen and Addison O’Grady dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 23 of Iowa’s 25 points to close the game. And JuJu? She got her numbers—27 points—but struggled against a prepared Iowa defense. USC missed 20 of their first 22 shots. Watkins went just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. The Hawkeyes didn’t just play inspired—they played informed.
So, Clark didn’t need a jersey to make one final assist. Her behind-the-scenes work helped sharpen the team’s edge, and in return, they delivered her a win worthy of retirement. Jan Jensen smiled at the memory: “She channeled JuJu well… but no one, no one’s, no one’s Caitlin.” And for one unforgettable week, Caitlin Clark proved it again—not by being the hero on the scoreboard, but by being the heartbeat in the practice.
Speaking of Juju, while February was a letdown for JuJu and the Trojans, what hurt them the most was what would happen down the season and the offseason.
USC’s New Challenge: No JuJu Watkins & Key Departures for 2025-26
On March 24, 2025, USC’s electrifying guard JuJu Watkins suffered a devastating ACL tear just five minutes into the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament second-round game against Mississippi State. The injury abruptly ended her sophomore season and cast uncertainty over her basketball future. Watkins, who averaged 23.9 points per game and was a leading candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year, is expected to face a 9 to 12-month rehabilitation period, sidelining her, possibly for the entire 2025–26 season.
IOWA CITY, IA – FEBRUARY 02: Southern Cal guard JuJu Watkins 12 reacts after a late basket by Iowa during a Big Ten Conference women s basketball game between the USC Trojans and the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 02, 2025, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA. Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 02 Women s – USC at Iowa EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250202106
The timing couldn’t have been worse for USC. The Trojans were riding high after a 30–3 season and an Elite Eight appearance for the third time since 1993. However, the offseason brought significant roster changes. Key contributor Kiki Iriafen got drafted to the WNBA as a 1st round 4th pick by Washington Mystics (averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and shooting 52.5 % )
Compounding the challenge, senior forward Rayah Marshall, known for her almost double-double averages and defensive prowess (averaged 10.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 42.5 % shooting) was selected 25th overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Additionally, promising players Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel entered the transfer portal, further depleting the roster.
Despite these setbacks, USC’s head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, has been proactive in rebuilding. The Trojans have the addition of Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn and Londynn Jones from UCLA, who are expected to shoulder the team in the absence of Watkins.
However, it’s hard to ignore that with Watkins possibly sidelined and the departure of key veterans, the upcoming season presents a formidable challenge. The Trojans will rely heavily on their new additions to fill the void left by their injured star and departed leaders.
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