Caitlin Clark made sure Iowa opened the 2026-27 season with a little extra shine.
While the WNBA offseason keeps her away from the floor for now, the Iowa legend still found a way to look out for the program that helped turn her into a star. The Hawkeyes women’s basketball team received a special delivery from Clark just ahead of the new college season, and it came in the form of her first signature shoe with Nike, the Caitlin Clark 1.
Even better for Iowa, the pair was the yellow-and-black colorway tied to the school. That made the gift feel tailor-made for the Hawkeyes, who were set to debut the shoes in their first game of the 2026-27 campaign.
The team acknowledged the moment on November 2, 2026, posting: "Another special delivery from CC ahead of Game 1 🟡⚫️ @CaitlinClark22 x #Hawkeyes https://t.co/BcLqR3GlX9"
Clark’s signature line has already drawn plenty of attention since its launch, with multiple notable releases along the way. One of the most recent was a Halloween-inspired “Jinx” colorway that included a glow-in-the-dark feature.
The new shoes landed in the hands of a team that started the year with some momentum. Iowa opened the season later on Monday with a 73-45 home win over Towson, and guard Dani Carnegie paced the Hawkeyes with 21 points and five assists.
Iowa entered the season ranked 10th in the county in a field that includes South Carolina and UConn.
Meanwhile, Clark is spending the week on a press tour for her new children’s book, with appearances lined up on some of the biggest shows in America.
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Iowa Faces A Road Test That Could Shape Its CFP Hopes
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For Iowa, the assignment is as much about execution as it is about the standings. The Hawkeyes have to find a way to handle Northwesterns home comfort, protect the ball, and get enough from the offense to avoid letting a tricky road environment turn into a missed opportunity in the postseason picture. With CFP implications beginning to come into focus, this is the kind of November game that can quietly carry more weight than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]