Social media reacts as Caitlin Clark, Iowa make national statement in win over Virginia Tech
In a matchup of Final Four participants from last season, it was the No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes that emerged with a key early-season, resume-building victory over No. 5 Virginia Tech in the Ally Tipoff from Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
It reaffirmed what everyone knew coming in: Hawkeye senior guard Caitlin Clark is the nation’s clear best player and Iowa is a legitimate player to cut down the nets and win a national championship come next spring in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
The West Des Moines superstar authored up another one of her virtuoso performances, scoring 44 points in the made-for-TV showdown. It’s the ninth time that Clark has eclipsed the 40-point plateau in her career.
She also knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with eight rebounds and six assists.
Sophomore Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke showed more signs that she’s ready to step into the full-time limelight as well, finishing with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Her connection with Clark is only getting better with each passing outing.
Graduate student guard Kate Martin was the only other Hawkeye in double-figure scoring, adding 10 points.
Back from an ACL injury that cost her last season, redshirt junior guard Kylie Feuerbach gave Iowa some key minutes as well. The 6-foot native of Sycamore, Ill., knocked down a key second-half 3-pointer and finished with eight points.
Naturally, social media was buzzing after the Hawkeyes’ massive top-10 triumph over Virginia Tech.
All eyes on Iowa
All eyes on us tonight
#3 Iowa vs #8 Virginia Tech
Let’s get it done pic.twitter.com/LAfdTea2JR
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) November 9, 2023
Always inspiring
Caitlin Clark inspiring the next gen 💛 pic.twitter.com/FTXWJDOS0o
— espnW (@espnW) November 10, 2023
And The Show begins
Caitlin Clark show starting now. LETS GO HAWKS
— I Love Iowa Basketball (@ILoveIowaBball) November 10, 2023
Hyped for this one. GO HAWKS
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 10, 2023
Hello, Reverse Grinch
Caitlin Clark rocking the Reverse Grinch shoes tonight 👀
🎥 @ashstro pic.twitter.com/lw57j5i7kp
— The Athletic WBB (@TheAthleticWBB) November 10, 2023
reverse grinch for cc22?
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) November 10, 2023
That didn't take long
THERE SHE GOES pic.twitter.com/X9uiHfkxEx
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 10, 2023
CAITLIN CLARK
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 10, 2023
Caitlin Clark to Hannah Stuelke connection draws praise
The Caitlin Clark – Hannah Stuelke connection is even better than I thought it would be this year
— I Love Iowa Basketball (@ILoveIowaBball) November 10, 2023
Clark to Stuelke is going to be absolutely lethal
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 10, 2023
Virginia Tech is helping SO much on Clark when she's on the perimeter.
Hannah Stuelke is practically running a layup drill out there.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 10, 2023
This Caitlin and Hannah pick and roll combo may be unstoppable
— Blake Hornstein (@BlakeHornTV) November 10, 2023
You've got to be kidding me, Georgia Amoore
GEORGIA AMOORE FROM HALF COURT AT THE BUZZER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/PG67wlT6ar
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 10, 2023
Yikes
— Extremely Impressive Felts (PAIN) (@Zhawk44) November 10, 2023
😵💫😵💫😵💫
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 10, 2023
The crowd loves Kate Martin
LETS GO KATE
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 10, 2023
I love Kate Martin. Freaking competitor.
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) November 10, 2023
But, the refs don't
Terrible second foul call on Martin.
— Tom Kakert (@HawkeyeReport) November 10, 2023
I'm not sure how that's an offensive foul on Kate Martin. That's called getting to the hoop.
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) November 10, 2023
Tad surprised they didn't review that for a flop. Didn't think there was a ton of contact there.
Referees aren't letting a lot of things go tonight on either end.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 10, 2023
Not a banner broadcast moment for ESPN2
The only thing struggling more than this sound quality is the officiating
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 10, 2023
Is everyone else’s sound cutting out?
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) November 10, 2023
Anyone else having audio issues or just me
— austin (Austin's Version) (@AustinJRoberts) November 10, 2023
Caitlin Clark pulled the Dirk fade!
Caitlin Clark with the Dirk fade away for 8 pts in a row pic.twitter.com/FwvbOe4jHM
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 10, 2023
oh my, dirk fade away
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) November 10, 2023
Icy at the break, but Iowa leads
Iowa is positively arctic from deep. Good look after good look, nothing going down.
— Adam Jacobi (@adam_jacobi) November 10, 2023
A life-changing sports experience
I am not being dramatic at all (like I’m being so serious) watching Caitlin Clark play in person is a life-changing event and if she is playing in your city please go see her
— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) November 10, 2023
Step back splash
Caitlin Clark casual step back bomb pic.twitter.com/Xh8V4h3kCa
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 10, 2023
Charlotte logo work!
CAITLIN CLARK IS LOGO HUNTING AGAIN pic.twitter.com/tlfwi9fKVI
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 10, 2023
Caitlin Clark.
That's it.
That's the tweet.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 10, 2023
Making memories
“Cool Jersey” – @CaitlinClark22 🥹 pic.twitter.com/CP1iQd87vO
— WSLAM (@wslam) November 10, 2023
Ratio this man!
I’ve never seen someone so helped out by refs as Clark is tonight.
— Adam Boitnott (@Boitnott) November 10, 2023
Yes
Caitlin Clark is the best player in the country
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) November 10, 2023
Ton of great players in college basketball– but there's no argument for anybody better than Caitlin.
Generational talent.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 10, 2023
🐐
— Hawkeye Nation (@hawkeyenation) November 10, 2023
The quality of this game, though!
I’m wildly entertained
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) November 10, 2023
What a game
— Extremely Impressive Felts (PAIN) (@Zhawk44) November 10, 2023
OK, Kylie Feuerbach! Welcome back!
Oh my goodness Kylie Feuerbach HEATING UP.
She nails a three-pointer. Timeout Hokies. 53-43.
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) November 10, 2023
Our girl Kylie Feuerbach just needed to get her feet wet first half, now she’s diving in baby!
— Morgsss✨ (@Morgsss21) November 10, 2023
i’ve been pushing the Kylie Feuerbach agenda ur all late
— ^🐤🌹 (@hawkeyemuse) November 10, 2023
Love from D Wade!
I’m drinking some Wade Rose Wine and watching women’s college hoops! Caitlin Clark is simply good at basketball! That’s all…
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 10, 2023
And it's true
She’s just so much better than everybody else lol
— Connor McCaffery (@connor_m30) November 10, 2023
Clark stuff
Caitlin Clark now has 5 career games with 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, including 3 against AP Top-10 opponents.
Since her career began, the rest of Division I has 3 such games, period. pic.twitter.com/dPOhQhe7Vw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 10, 2023
It's electric
Electric night go hawks
— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) November 10, 2023
No doubt
CAITLIN CLARK CAME TO HOOP 😤@CaitlinClark22 | @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/R2cSBXRt6F
— ESPN (@espn) November 10, 2023
Are the Hawkeyes headed for No. 1?
If Iowa beats UNI on Sunday, Lisa Bluder's #Hawkeyes could be ranked No. 1 entering next week.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 10, 2023
Hats off, Coach Bluder
Feel like Lisa Bluder won this game from the bench. Outcoached and outsubbed the Hokies. Had a great plan. Managed it. Kept rotations fluid. Even when foul trouble threw it off, went back to what she knows can work. Curious about O’Grady, but Lisa schooled them tonight. #Hawkeyes
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) November 10, 2023
Siri, play that song!
NO FREAKING BEER!!!!
— Hawkeye Elvis (@HawkeyeElvis) November 10, 2023
Onto the next!
B1G TIME DUB 😤#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/LouA4Iy3uJ
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) November 10, 2023
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Hawkeyes Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.