Caitlin Clark shares near-death experience on Iowa basketball's Italy trip

WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark reveals she had a near-death experience during a trip to Italy with the Iowa basketball team.

Gabbie Marshall, Caitlin Clark, and Jada Gyamfi react before being honored at the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats at Kinnick Stadium. / Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark burst onto the scene after shattering NCAA records as a star for the Iowa basketball team. But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows during her time as a Hawkeye.

Clark appeared on former teammate Jada Gyamfi's "Fresh Tawk" podcast with college teammates Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin.

During the podcast, Clark discussed the team's trip to Italy in 2023 when a scary moment took place.

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The Hawkeyes were cave diving when Clark says they "literally could've died" during the trip.

"We literally could've died," Clark recalled. "We literally could because, remember there was a rock and you couldn't go like, you only had to dive under the rock. If you didn't get under, you were dead.

"I had to swim back, too. I'm like, 'Bro, I can't keep doing this. This is a workout."

Iowa Hawkeyes guards Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin take questions at Rocket Mortgage Arena. / Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

The trip to Italy took place during the preseason where the team also toured Croatia.

During the trip, the Hawkeyes had exhibition games against Team Slammers, KK Tresnjevka, and the Croatian All-Stars. Iowa won all three contests before going on to win the Big Ten and reach the NCAA championship for a second straight year.

Clark then went on to become the No. 1 overall pick of the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft, while Kate Martin was selected in Round 2 by the ten back-to-back defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

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