Why The Wave is Caitlin Clark's favorite sports tradition

Caitlin Clark joined the New Heights podcast in the latest episode of the show to kick off the New Year.

The former Iowa womens basketball superstar and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year discussed myriad topics from college recruitment to her fondest memories at Iowa with NFL brother duo hosts Jason and Travis Kelce.

FILE - Iowa players, including guard Caitlin Clark, front center, forward Hannah Stuelke, front left, and guard Kate Martin (20) celebrate after an Elite 8 basketball game of the NCAA Tournament against Louisville, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Seattle.

Iowa will attempt to set the all-time women's basketball attendance record when it hosts DePaul in an outdoor exhibition at 69,000-seat Kinnick Stadium on Oct.

15, the school announced Thursday, Aug.

10, 2023.

(AP Photo/Caean Couto, File) Caean Couto Though Clark struggled to name a favorite award, she did easily settle on her fondest tradition from her time with the Hawkeyes, the Kinnick Wave.

Jason initially misunderstood Clark, believing she meant the long-lived synchronized crowd movement meant to simulate ocean waves around the bowl of a stadium.

However, the Iowa native set him straight and explained the tradition.

The Wave is pretty awesome because the Childrens Hospital looks over on the stadium, Clark said.

It is cool.

It has always been a thing, but the wave has really become a thing probably in the last eight years.

We have a kid captain for every game because the hospital is such a big deal.

...

They get to pick a song that plays after the first quarter.

I get chills every time.

It is sick.

It is probably one of the best traditions in all of sports, if not the best." Though Clark described the wave as it occurs during home football games, the Iowa women's basketball team also participated in the tradition when the team hosted DePaul in preseason exhibition Crossover at Kinnick event last fall.

Following the event, Clark said the most memorable part of the day was women's basketball kid captain Krysty Bujakowska, who passed away in 2024.

"It is different when you are able to meet them and understand their story," Clark said.

"She has a personal connection to our associate head coach Jan Jensen.

She just got re-diagnosed with cancer and nobody is happier to be here than her.

"I told Kate (Martin), after she talked to us and Coach J (Jensen) told us her story, 'You should come into every game and understand it does not matter if we win or lose.

It does not matter if you score 30 points.

It does not matter what happens.' That kid is living her life to the fullest and she has something that is really bad in her life.

We are lucky enough to play a sport.

She would do anything to do that again.

...

Being able to get to meet her and she gave me her player card.

It says favorite Hawkeye: Caitlin Clark.

I know I will keep that for forever." Former Iowa womens hoops coach Lisa Bluder details life in retirement, new venture Caitlin Clark's Rise: Former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder details guard's journey to stardom Iowa sets a date for Caitlin Clark jersey retirement.

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