Iowa Women’s Basketball Practice Swings by a Newly-Minted WNBA Champion A newly crowned WNBA champion walks into your gym every day, but that’s exactly what happened in Iowa City this week.
One of the league’s most recent champions paid the Iowa women’s basketball team an unexpected visit, and let’s just say that the atmosphere inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena exploded as soon as she entered.
The player, who is well-known to Hawkeye supporters, stopped by to catch up with old friends, share some advice, and remind everyone of how far Iowa’s program has come after an emotional playoff run and to bask in the glory of a championship parade.
The player, who is well-known to Hawkeye supporters, stopped by to catch up with old friends, share some advice, and remind everyone of how far Iowa’s program has come after an emotional playoff run and to bask in the glory of a championship parade.
Fanfare and attention were not the purpose of her visit. It had to do with motivation. Practice came to a sudden stop as she entered the court. The players were stunned. Then there was a flurry of cell phone cameras, applause, and hugs. It was a full-circle moment for this group, many of whom grew up watching her carve up defenses in the black and gold.
The champion engaged in conversation with players, shared jokes with coaches, and even participated in a few drills. She exuded the same self-assured, lighthearted swagger that had electrified the same court only a few years prior. It felt like a symbolic passing of the torch to watch her give high fives to the current roster, a reminder that greatness doesn’t just happen at Iowa; it grows here.
Jan Jensen, the head coach, was unable to conceal her pride. After practice, she remarked, “You could see it in our players’ eyes.” “It hits differently when someone who has been in their position, who has worked hard here and gone on to achieve success at the highest level, returns. It demonstrates to them what is feasible.
Nobody missed the message. Before becoming a WNBA champion, she was a college student who had to endure the same preseason conditioning exercises, deal with the same pressure to perform, and face the same expectations. That connection became real once more when she returned to the practice floor.
It was a surreal experience for Iowa’s younger players, particularly the freshmen and incoming recruits. One player grinned and remarked, “I’ve been watching her highlights since middle school.” “To witness her up close, still demonstrating her love for this program while wearing a championship ring? That is what motivates me.
A deeper aspect of Iowa women’s basketball—the culture—was also highlighted by the visit. It is based on a common belief in hard work, family, and loyalty. Iowa has created an atmosphere where players don’t just pass through—they return, as evidenced by Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking seasons and the program’s expanding list of pros. They also give back.
The champion gathered the team at midcourt before departing and discussed the mental toughness, discipline, and grind required to succeed at the next level. She remarked, “It doesn’t get easier.” “You simply get more powerful. Every repetition, practice, and setback counts.
Then she waved, grinned, and left the gym in the same manner that she had come in: modest, polite, and full of pride. The team jumped back into drills with a fresh enthusiasm as the doors closed behind her. A discernible change in energy was evident: more intensity, louder communication, and sharper passes. Inspiration had served its purpose. At Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Hawkeyes were reminded for a single afternoon that dreams are not over. That’s where they usually begin.
