How Caitlin Clark Helped Iowa Prepare for Upset Win Over JuJu Watkins and USC

Former Iowa Hawkeyes player Clark reacts with former coaches and current Hawkeye players after the game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against the USC Trojans. The Hawkeyes retired the jersey of Clark after the game. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Before Iowa retired Caitlin Clark's jersey on Feb. 2, the WNBA Rookie of the Year was busy helping the Hawkeyes get ready to upset USC. The preparation worked, with Iowa handing the Trojans their first Big Ten loss of the season.

Clark practiced with Iowa before the game, which current Hawkeyes star Lucy Olsen said helped the team prepare for the firepower of USC's superstar JuJu Watkins. Clark's stardom brought the best scout team decoy to help mimic all that Watkins brings. An intense, competitive dress rehearsal. And Olsen said the former Hawkeye didn't let up.