Caitlin Clark surprised her alma mater this week, gifting the entire Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball roster her signature Nike Caitlin 1 sneakers ahead of the team's season-opening win. The custom shoes came in a black and gold Iowa colorway with the Tigerhawk logo on the tongue.
The gesture landed just before Iowa tipped off the 2026-27 season against Towson on Monday, according to Yardbarker, and the Hawkeyes rewarded the moment with a comfortable victory to open the campaign, Yahoo Sports reported.
A special delivery from CC
Iowa Women's Basketball posted a video showing players walking into the locker room and unboxing the sneakers, with excitement written across their faces.
Another special delivery from CC ahead of Game 1, the program wrote on X.
Clark's generosity follows a busy stretch of giving. She recently won $90,000 in a MrBeast challenge and donated the money to her foundation, according to EssentiallySports. Days later, she turned her attention back to the program she built into a national powerhouse.
Clark's record-setting legacy at Iowa
The gift is the latest reminder of what Clark meant to Iowa basketball. She scored 3,951 points in her college career, breaking the NCAA Division I all-time scoring record. A three-time first-team All-American, she led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship games and lifted the program to heights it had never reached.
Her influence turned Iowa City into the center of the basketball world for two seasons, packing Carver-Hawkeye Arena and drawing record television audiences. The Caitlin Clark effect has not faded since she left for the WNBA's Indiana Fever, and Monday's gift showed she remains invested in the program she elevated.
This is not the first time Clark has given away her shoes
Clark has made a habit of surprising players and fans with her signature sneakers. On Oct. 27, she gifted the girls' basketball team at Zionsville Community High School, about 22 miles outside Indianapolis, fresh pairs of the Nike Caitlin 1.
Really cool night for Zionsville Girls' Basketball. Thank YOU, Nike and Caitlin Clark! the team posted on X.
Clark also appeared on ESPN's College GameDay before Iowa played Ohio State, launching autographed pairs of her shoes into the crowd of Hawkeye fans. The gesture turned a handful of lucky catches into valuable keepsakes.
Nike released the Caitlin 1 on Oct. 1, and reports indicated the inventory sold out within hours. Even before the official release, Clark surprised two young fans with her game-worn pairs.
Why Clark keeps giving
Clark explained her thinking in September, in comments reported by The Associated Press.
I hope when people put the shoe on, they can feel a part of me, Clark said. I hope more than anything it gives people confidence that they can dream to achieve whatever they want, and they feel like they can be me in the shoe.
She is also turning that mindset into a new project. Clark has written a 32-page children's book illustrated by Adri Predoi, titled Extraordinary! A Little Extra to Reach BIG Dreams. First announced in May, the book covers teamwork, resilience, and the bonds of family and friends working toward a shared goal. Pre-orders are open now through Random House.
Where fans can see Clark next
Clark is set to appear on Good Morning America this Tuesday, and three nights later she will sit down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to promote the book. The appearances cap a busy offseason for the Fever star, who continues to split her time between her pro career in Indiana and the community that watched her become a legend.
For the current Hawkeyes roster, the season is already off to a winning start, with a piece of Clark's legacy sitting in their lockers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Caitlin Clark give the Iowa Hawkeyes?
Clark gifted the entire current Hawkeyes roster her signature Nike Caitlin 1 sneakers in a custom black and gold Iowa colorway featuring the Tigerhawk logo.
When did Clark give the Hawkeyes the shoes?
The sneakers arrived before Iowa's 2026-27 season opener against Towson on Monday, and the team went on to win the game.
What is Caitlin Clark's new book called?
Her 32-page children's book, Extraordinary! A Little Extra to Reach BIG Dreams, is illustrated by Adri Predoi and available for pre-order through Random House.