WNBA star Caitlin Clark may have won Rookie of the Year – but was hit with a wave of envy as her college pals had a mini-reunion without her.

At just 22, the Indiana Fever guard was picked up first in this year’s draft following her stellar stint with the Iowa Hawkeyes, where she shattered records and became the NCAA’s top scorer. Her on-court prowess sparked the ‘Caitlin Clark effect,’ skyrocketing interest in women’s basketball.

Quickly becoming a household name, Clark steered the Fever into the playoffs glory and made the WNBA All-Star team, smashing records left and right. Yet, Clark still cherishes her time with the Hawkeyes and was hit with a pang of jealousy when former team-mates Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin visited Iowa without her.

This Monday, the Iowa Hawkeyes triumphed over the Virginia Tech Hokies with a 71-52 win, climbing to a 2-0 season start. Among the supporters were Iowa alum Marshall and Las Vegas Aces’ Martin, who snapped a photo with Hawkeyes forward Jada Gyamfi after the victory.

Martin’s Instagram caption celebrated the reunion: “#23’s BIGGEST fan! ! So good seeing my Hawkeye family this weekend.” The mini-reunion left Clark feeling sentimental, and she humorously quipped, “Crop me in next time gang.”

The team achieved significant success together, having clinched three Big 10 titles back to back, and the Hawkeyes honored Clark’s impact by retiring her celebrated number 22 jersey. After their time in Iowa, Marshall chose further education over the WNBA draft. Meanwhile, Martin secured her Aces spot as a second-round draft pick.

They trio fondly looked back on their college exploits during an episode of Gyamfi’s Fresh Tawk podcast, where Clark confessed which team had her most anxious.

“We went to Northern Iowa and like, that’s a hard place to play – sold out,” Clark reminisced about their triumphant November 2023 game. “I was like personally kind of nervous for that game. I don’t know why, it was just like the instate rivalries, you never know how they’re going to go. And we went in there and just destroyed them by 40.”

Caitlin Clark, Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin

Caitlin Clark, Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin formed a close bond at the Iowa Hawkeyes ( 

Image:

Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Their social media often reflects the close-knit bond between the former team-mates. This was especially evident when Clark earned her spot on the All-WNBA team and Martin responded with a heartfelt, “Proud of you” accompanied by a white heart emoji.

At the WNBA draft, despite not being in the lineup, Marshall supported her former team-mates from the stands. For Clark, though, the event was tinged with mixed emotions.

“After my name was called, I got swept off to do interviews,” she recalled. “I didn’t even have my phone, and suddenly I heard, ‘Kate [Martin] just got picked.’ It hit me so hard I wasn’t there to see it.”