Caitlin Clark was probably randomly scrolling on Instagram when she stumbled across a video that lit her up. It’s not a highlight reel of her NCAA record-breaking 3951 points or a clip from her rookie season with the Indiana Fever. Nope. It’s “Mama Zee,” Iowa’s hype-girl, who is doing more than just driving the bus- she is driving the vibe! Clark, who’s busy bulking up for the WNBA season, could’ve just liked the post and kept scrolling in her me-time. But, of course, she is too Iowa for that.
In the video, Mama Zee’s standing there inside the bus, looking at the players like she’s about to send them into battle. “Do y’all remember when y’all tried out for this team?” she said, her tone firm but warm, like a mom who knows 100% that you can do better. “That’s what I need from you today.” Then she turned it up: “If we don’t win, we can never play ball again. You hear me? It’s about to be some pressure.” Well, the best part is that it is not fancy or rehearsed—it’s real, and you can feel the weight of it. Pep talks are great, but gut checks are even greater. And this one will surely stick with all the players when the game’s on the line. She ended the speech by starting a “We Ready!” chant with the team.
Caitlin watched the video and lost it- in the best way possible though. “Okay eat then. This had me about to go thru a brick wall … heck yeah,” she commented, and I don’t know about you, but I can almost see her pacing her apartment, searching for her black and gold suit. And since Caitlin is Caitlin, she doesn’t stop at this. She tags Iowa’s head coach Jan Jensen, assistant Raina Harmon, and the team account with a no-nonsense nudge: “Get her Iowa WBB merch .. she deserves it.” Honestly, Mama Zee might receive one soon, because who can argue with this?
After the video dropped, we could understand why Iowa came swinging against No.11 Murray, a squad that tops the nation in scoring offense, averaging 87.8 points per game. One would think, “Okay, this could be tight”. But, no, Iowa rolled them at 92-57. Just a straight-up clinic. By halftime, Iowa was up 42-30, and it was a comfortable ride from there. Amongst all, it seemed like Ava Heiden was the most pumped up by Mama Zee. Everyone knew she was up to something when she grabbed 7 points and 4 rebounds in just the first quarter, without risking a single turnover to her name. She capped it off with 15 points, her career-high, and 7 rebounds against the Racers.
“I think that over the past few months, I’ve been putting in a lot of extra work,” Heiden said after the game. “That has helped me get to the confidence level and skill level coming to games like this.”
And even though Clark isn’t on the floor anymore, she’s still watching, still supporting, and still celebrating every Iowa win like it’s her own.
Caitlin Clark’s Impact Still Felt as Iowa Rolls On
Even though Caitlin Clark isn’t stunning the Carver-Hawkeye Arena with her logo threes or threading impossible passes through defenses anymore, she hasn’t left the Iowa Hawkeyes behind. She might have traded her black-and-gold jersey for a seat in the stands, but her heart? It still beats fast whenever Iowa takes on a rival on the court. So, her legacy with Iowa hasn’t gone anywhere, it has just evolved.
when Iowa was torching Michigan for a 74-61 victory, she was courtside, beaming like a proud alum. “They play basketball the right way and that’s why people love supporting them and coming to their games, so that’s why I’m here,” she said during an interview on BTN. “I love it. I love getting to see some of my best friends play basketball and have a lot of fun doing it.”
Clark’s not alone in her support. She’s often joined by boyfriend Connor McCaffery, whose own ties to Iowa basketball run deep as a former player and son of ex-men’s coach Fran McCaffery. Together, they’ve become the Hawkeyes’ unofficial cheer squad. Take March 5, for instance, when Clark zipped from Iowa’s 81-54 rout of Wisconsin to Butler University to catch Connor’s brother Patrick’s final college game. She’s juggling her WNBA offseason with a packed schedule of support. For her, loyalty isn’t bound by time or distance.
Iowa’s still selling out games—15,000 strong every night—proof that Clark’s magic didn’t leave with her. “The excitement of the last few years has rubbed off,” said retired coach Lisa Bluder to ESPN. But Clark’s impact goes beyond Iowa. Coach Megan Phelps put it best: “One of the things Clark did was bring eyes to a sport that has already been exciting and filled with a lot of talent, that maybe didn’t have as much investment into the promoting and the marketing.” And it’s showing. Even when you take Iowa out of the equation, women’s NCAA Tournament games saw a 76% growth in viewership from the year before.
Now, even with Clark in the WNBA, the momentum hasn’t faded. Viewership for women’s college hoops is up 3% from last season and a massive 41% from two years ago. According to ESPN’s Dan Margulis, the growth is undeniable.
And Iowa? They’re still riding the wave. The Hawkeyes dominated their first tournament game without Clark, and players like Lucy Olsen are stepping up to keep the program competitive. Clark’s not on the floor, but she’s in the DNA of every win. She’s watching. She’s supporting. And when Iowa triumphs, you can bet she’s celebrating—because for Caitlin Clark, every Hawkeye victory still feels like home.
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