[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE IOWA HAWKEYES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, on behalf of the Hawkeye State, I am 
proud to congratulate the Iowa women's basketball team for a historic 
run in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. All season long, the 
Hawkeyes played before sellout crowds at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa 
City. Fans from across the State got swept up in the adrenaline rush of 
remarkable athleticism and a fast-paced offense that delivered high-
scoring games and thrilling victories throughout the regular season, 
from the home court buzzer beater against second- ranked Indiana on 
February 26, to bringing home the hardware on March 5 from the Big 10 
Championship game at ``Carver North'' at the Target Center in 
Minneapolis.
  Leading the team to its fifth Big 10 Conference Tournament title, 
Iowa's homegrown guard Caitlin Clark wowed the world all season long, 
setting the bar higher and higher and delivering one of many historic 
firsts yet to come in postseason play, namely the first 40-point 
triple-double in NCAA tournament history. Only after, the West Des 
Moines native and stellar student-athlete from Dowling Catholic High 
School registered the third triple-double in Big 10 tournament history, 
the first time ever in the championship game. Clark's phenomenal 
ability to connect with teammates in transition, net 3 pointers from 
half court, and score lay-ups and jumpers while being double-teamed 
captured the attention of the entire country. From one game to the 
next, Clark's trademark ability to swish a basket from the logo 
mesmerizes spectators, bewilders the defense, and opens up 
opportunities for her teammates to shine. A sensational athlete, Clark 
earned player of the year from multiple outlets this season.
  Throughout the thrilling contests during Iowa's deep run in the NCAA 
tournament, Hawkeye fans from around the world and across the State of 
Iowa were thrilled with pride to be along for the ride. The journey 
began at home on St. Patrick's Day with a resounding win over 
Southeastern Louisiana 95-48. In the second round, the Hawkeyes beat 
Georgia 74-66 before a sellout crowd in Iowa City before advancing to 
the Sweet 16 against Colorado and on to face Louisville in the Elite 
Eight at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA. The spellbinding teamwork 
the Iowa Hawkeyes brought to the court broke attendance records for 
Women's NCAA tournament regional play as they locked in 87-77 and 97-83 
victories, respectively, to punch their ticket to the Final Four at the 
American Airlines Center in Dallas. Next up, a contest against the 
defending champion South Carolina, who was on a 42-game winning streak. 
In a spectacular upset on Friday, March 31, the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a 
spot in the national championship game with a 77-73 victory over the 
Gamecocks.
  The electrifying victories and hard-fought contests during the 2022/
23 season made household names of Hawkeye starters Caitlin Clark, 
Monica Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, McKenna Warnock, and Kate Martin, led 
by an outstanding coaching team captained by head coach Lisa Bluder and 
associate head coach Jan Jensen, both homegrown products of Iowa 
women's basketball. I am proud to share an alma mater with Coach 
Bluder, where she earned her way into the Panther record books at the 
University of Northern Iowa. Widely respected as workhorses through 
their high school and collegiate careers, this dynamic coaching team 
has built a program for the ages that will inspire and attract future 
basketball players for years to come.
  With nearly 10 million viewers for the championship game against the 
LSU Tigers, this historic match-up offered both teams their first 
opportunity in program history to bring home the national title. It was 
the most-watched women's basketball game in history. If what is past is 
prologue, the sellout crowds and record-breaking TV ratings will 
continue.
  This magical season started at home on November 7, continuing with an 
exhilarating run through March Madness all the way to April 2, taking 
the Iowa Hawkeyes to the second Final Four in program history and its 
first appearance in the NCAA title game. The electrifying ride unified 
our State, even coalescing fans with die-hard rivalries in their 
bloodstreams. To be sure, I watched every minute and couldn't take my 
eyes off the game when the Hawkeyes were playing. Iowans cloaked 
themselves in Black and Gold to cheer for the Hawkeyes and women's 
basketball on the national stage.
  Although the final score in the championship game didn't deliver the 
victory the coaches and players worked their tails off to bring home, 
the State of Iowa, the University of Iowa, and future generations of 
players received a priceless victory from this extraordinary season. 
The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team made Iowa proud. This team 
has earned a place in our hearts, and we can't wait to watch and cheer 
for you next season and for generations to come. On behalf of the 
Hawkeye State, I congratulate you for an outstanding season that made 
history, put all eyes on Iowa, and catapulted women's basketball to 
soaring new heights on the horizon and beyond. Go Hawks.

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