Hawkeyes Star Caitlin Clark Injured in Post-Game Court Storming
The No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes pulled off a huge upset on Saturday, defeating the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes 100-92 in overtime in front of a record-setting home crowd of 12,036 at Value City Arena in Columbus. However, the excitement of Ohio State’s monumental win was marred by a scary incident involving Iowa star Caitlin Clark after the game.
As ecstatic Ohio State fans rushed the court to celebrate the upset victory over the previously undefeated Hawkeyes, Clark was accidentally knocked down and collided with multiple fans. She appeared dazed and shaken up afterward.
Buckeyes Rally to Shock Hawkeyes in Overtime
Cotie McMahon scored a career-high 33 points to lead Ohio State to the improbable comeback win. The Buckeyes trailed by as many as seven points late in regulation before forcing overtime and pulling off the victory.
Iowa had control for most of the game and led by five with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter. But Ohio State tied it in stunning fashion to force the extra session.
Clark was sensational for Iowa, posting 45 points on 17-of-28 shooting along with five assists. But McMahon and the Buckeyes had all the answers down the stretch.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | OT | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 16 | 21 | 22 | 29 | 12 | 100 |
| Iowa | 28 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 4 | 92 |
The win snapped Iowa’s 42-game regular season Big Ten winning streak dating back to 2021. It was the Hawkeyes’ first loss ever with Clark in the lineup.
Scary Scene as Fans Storm Court and Collide with Clark
As the final buzzer sounded, swarms of Ohio State students and fans stormed the court in wild celebration. But in the chaos, several of them inadvertently ran directly into Clark near the sideline.
Video showed Clark getting knocked backwards and falling hard to the ground as she was unable to brace for the collisions in time. Fans then tripped over Clark as she lay on the ground.
Players and coaches from both teams rushed to Clark’s aid as she remained down for an extended period. The Iowa training staff escorted her off the court, and she walked very gingerly to the locker room area.
“That part was extremely scary when that happened,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said of Clark’s collision with the fans. “When you see someone go down like that, it’s very concerning.”
Clark was later diagnosed with a sprained ankle from the incident. Her status going forward is unclear.
The frightening scene sparked renewed conversation about the dangers of fans storming playing surfaces. Some suggested Ohio State did not have enough security personnel in place to hold back the swarm of delighted Buckeye supporters.
Buckeyes Cap Incredible Week with History-Making Upset
Ohio State was coming off a huge 29-point win over then-No. 5 Notre Dame earlier in the week. Coupled with taking down mighty Iowa, the Buckeyes surely vaulted into next week’s AP Top 25 poll after receiving votes this week.
Riding the momentum of the monumental victories, the Buckeyes are now 13-3 overall and 5-2 in a loaded Big Ten conference. They appear poised to challenge for the league crown and lock up a high seed for the NCAA Tournament in March.
“I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of the grit that they showed,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said.
For Iowa, it was back-to-back difficult road losses after they fell at Illinois on Monday. The Hawkeyes are now 16-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
Clark and sophomore post player Monika Czinano have powered the Hawkeyes to one of their best seasons ever. But they ran into a red-hot Ohio State squad playing with supreme confidence at home.
Iowa will look to regroup with a more favorable schedule coming up, as they play four straight games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena over the next few weeks.
What This Means Going Forward
More Scrutiny Expected on Court Storming Safety
The harrowing incident involving Clark figures to bring more attention to player safety when it comes to passionate fans flooding playing surfaces after big victories.
Overzealous court/field storming celebrations have increasingly become part of the landscape in college sports. But there is always risk of injury to players, coaches and fans when thousands of spectators all rush into a confined space at once.
Security and other event management staff may be under more pressure to ensure orderly post-game celebrations moving forward. Fines and other penalties for fans entering playing areas could also be enacted.
“We’ve got to really get this court storming under control,” said analyst Andy Staples. ” Otherwise, it’s going to lead to a really bad incident.”
For highly-ranked teams like Iowa who travel to tough road venues, limiting access of opposing fans to players and coaches may take on more emphasis as well in the name of safety.
Surging Buckeyes Become Major Threat in Competitive Big Ten Race
With their signature back-to-back wins this past week, Ohio State established themselves as serious contenders at the top of the Big Ten conference.
The Buckeyes currently sit just one game behind Iowa and surprising Indiana in the league standings. Veterans like McMahon and senior Taylor Mikesell have Ohio State playing its best basketball at the perfect time.
| Big Ten Standings | Conference | Overall |
|---|
| Indiana | 7-0 | 16-1
| Iowa | 7-1 | 16-2
| Ohio State | 5-2 | 13-3
| Maryland | 5-3 | 13-4
| Michigan | 5-3 | 13-3
The Big Ten is stacked with six teams currently ranked in the Top 25. It promises to be a fight to the finish for the regular season crown.
But the Buckeyes are battle-tested and brimming with confidence after taking down two top five teams this week. They appear to have as good a chance as anyone to make a run at the Big Ten tournament title in March.
Setback Raises Questions About Iowa’s National Title Hopes
Iowa came into the season with legit national championship aspirations behind superstar Clark. She is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft this spring.
But the Hawkeyes were exposed a bit in consecutive road defeats against quality Big Ten foes. Turnovers, perimeter defense and a lack of complementary offensive options beyond Clark proved costly.
With Clark now nursing an injury after the incident with Ohio State fans, Iowa faces even more question marks going forward. They may not have the overall roster depth and talent to win six straight games in March Madness.
Still, Clark playing at an elite level can carry Iowa a long way. She remains one of the most unstoppable players in women’s college basketball when healthy.
How the Hawkeyes respond to adversity and getting everyone else more involved offensively will determine whether they are a serious Final Four threat or not this season.
This story is still developing and more information may emerge in the coming hours and days. But the Buckeyes’ exhilarating upset of Iowa and the scary collisions with Clark will be remembered and discussed for a long time either way.
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