IN PICS: Jan Jensen’s daughter Janie gets the best surprise as Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, and Gabbie Marshall attend her birthday
Jan Jensen's daughter Janie had special guests on her birthday as Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, and Gabbie Marshall joined in for the celebrations. The Iowa coach shared photographs from the evening via Instagram on Saturday and wrote:
"Fun night having some of our former Hawks in town!"
"(Janie) birthday +🐐alumni gettogehter + FUN!"
After four years with the Hawkeyes, Caitlin Clark transitioned to the WNBA in May 2024, along with Kate Martin, who played for five years in college.
Meanwhile, Gabbie Marshall retired from basketball after the 2023-24 season and is now pursuing her master's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Iowa.
The trio played a crucial role in Iowa's run to the NCAA championship games for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. They also led the team to three Big Ten championships in a row.
Also, the Hawkeyes, Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and the rest of the 2023-24 Iowa women's basketball team were honored with commemorative rings on Saturday.
The team received a standing ovation during the Iowa Hawkeyes football homecoming game against Northwestern at the Kinnick Stadium. They were joined by former coach Lisa Bluder, who retired in May.
The Kinnick Stadium holds precious memories for the team, as they had set the NCAA single-game record for the largest attendance in women’s basketball history a year ago, on Oct. 16, 2023.
The Hawkeyes took on the DePaul Blue Demons in an exhibition game and saw a record 55,646 people attend the first women’s basketball game to be played in a football stadium.
Jan Jensen is ready for the post-Caitlin Clark era at Iowa
Although Caitlin Clark played a huge role in Iowa's championship run for the last two years, new coach Jan Jensen is prepared to kickstart a new beginning.
"I think they have a really good approach on that, and it’s not used in any inappropriate way,” Jensen said. “And they’re just really ready to read that next chapter and kind of write the next book.
"I feel like their mindset is that was part of it, but this is here, and we kind of we got next. It’s the new the new opportunity.”
The Hawkeyes have added a few new pieces from the transfer portal and the 2024 recruiting class. They will play their first game on Nov. 6 against Northern Illinois.
Also read: “So fun”: Jan Jensen left surprised after “GOAT sightings” of Caitlin Clark, Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin at their old stomping ground