WNBA reigning Rookie of The Year Caitlin Clark sent her love the way of the Iowa Hawkeyes, her college basketball team, as it plays a game unlike others, as they honor cancer survivors and raise awareness of the advocacy and the cause surrounding it.
The most recent game between the Ioawa Hakweyes and the UCLA Bruins was also a game to honor cancer survivors. For the game, players wore the name of a cancer survivor close to their hearts: it could be a family member, a friend, or just anyone dear to them who has braved cancer.
The Iowa Hawkeyes Instagram page captioned: “More than a game 🫶 We had a few additions to our circle this morning. Gretchen, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Keryl, Kelley, and Randi each shared their cancer journey with us. Their stories are powerful. They are powerful. Today is for you 💕.”
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Caitlin Clark, a former Hawkeye herself, commented with two heart emojis under the post.
This particular pink game has been extra special for Hawkeyes senior Lucy Olsen, as she has “My MOM” written on her jersey. Her mother, Kelley Olsen, is a two-time breast cancer survivor. She first got diagnosed with it when Lucy was only nine, and survived, only to get the same cancer once more only 18 months later. Now, she has been cancer-free for more than 10 years already.
“I’m hoping to be able to keep it together,” Kelley Olsen said. “It’s amazing and wonderful what Iowa does with their jerseys. It’s another level of Iowa Nice, that they thought to do this.”
“It was super special,” Lucy Olsen said. “Got to share that moment with her. I know she was excited.”
During her senior year, Caitlin Clark wore the name “Keough” on her jersey for their pink game, who turned out to be Dan Keough, a family friend of the Clarks who battled colorectal cancer back in 2022.
Caitlin Clarks Showed Support for Hawkeyes vs Bruins
Prior to the game, Caitlin Clark showed her support for her college team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, as they face the UCLA Bruins. Through her X account, Clark gave a shoutout to the Hawkeyes team.
“Get Carver LOUD for the girls today!!!!! Let’s go @IowaWBB,” Clark posted on Sunday.
However, the Hawkeyes fell short and lost to the Bruins, in a close final score of 67-65. The game was decided in the final seconds when Elina Aarnisalo made two free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining, giving UCLA the lead. Lauren Betts led the Bruins with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Iowa’s Lucy Olsen scored 17 points.
Caitlin Clark, on the other hand, is preparing for the 2025 season of the WNBA.
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Yelle is a broadcast communications graduate from the University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and has pursued a career in television and news writing in Net 25 and Radyo Agila. Some of her works can also be seen through her previous publication in Fastbreak.com.ph.
