Caitlin Clark Creates Buzz During Appearance at Iowa Cubs Game

Caitlin Clark met thousands of fans, signed autographs for 90 minutes and threw out the first pitch at Principal Park.

Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

It’s possible that one of the best crowds the Iowa Cubs get all season will be because of a women’s basketball player and not the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate.

Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark did a meet-and-greet for the Iowa Cubs before their game on Saturday against Columbus. The 6:05 p.m. game drew more than 10,000 people, many of which reached the stadium well before the game.

How early? According to KCCI in Des Moines, the line started assembling at 6:30 a.m. outside of Principal Park, nearly 12 hours before first pitch. The line ended up wrapping around the entire ballpark.

Caitlin Clark is a ROCK STAR. This is the line to see the @IowaWBB megastar at the @IowaCubs game. They started lining up at 6am. Not everyone here will get through the line by 6:30. @CaitlinClark22 @KCCINews pic.twitter.com/c0zPLf9hDz

— Scott Reister (@scottreister) June 3, 2023

Some weren’t coming just to meet Clark. Some also came for the chance to get a Clark bobblehead, which featured her taking a shot while standing on a Iowa Cubs logo.

We’re underway! She’s as nice and friendly as ever. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/7lreeiX1eM

— Scott Reister (@scottreister) June 3, 2023

Clark, who went to Dowling Catholic before going to Iowa, greeted fans at a table inside Principal Park and signed autographs wearing an Iowa Cubs jersey, with her name and her basketball number on the back.

Iowa fans swarmed to meet National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark on Saturday night at Principal Park. She signed a ton of autographs — on basketballs, of course, and on a bowling pin ... of course?
📸 @dylan_heuer pic.twitter.com/bsLaccCc0w

— sailor (@sailor643) June 4, 2023

In between autograph sessions, she threw out the first pitch.

University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark is a sharp-shooter on the court ... and also fires strikes on the diamond. She tossed out the first pitch for the Iowa Cubs on Saturday night at Principal Park.
📸 @dylan_heuer pic.twitter.com/xupzaJ7QKw

— sailor (@sailor643) June 4, 2023

Why in between autograph sessions? The meet-and-greet was scheduled from 5-6:30 p.m. With first pitch set for 6:05, Clark had to race out to throw the first pitch and then race back to wrap up the meet-and-greet.

According to WHO-TV, Clark did a similar meet-and-greet after her freshman year with the Hawkeyes. It wasn’t quite as crowded.

Clark was the National Player of the Year last season in leading the Iowa Hawkeyes all the way to the National Championship Game before losing to LSU in Dallas. Clark opted to return to the Hawkeyes for another season instead of moving on to the WNBA.