(Radio Iowa) – As University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark preps for her final home game tonight (Monday), the economic and sociological impact of her career on and off the court is still being assessed — into tens of millions of dollars. U-I Business Analytics Professor Jeff Ohlmann (OLE-mun) says his research into the so-called Caitlin Clark Effect doesn’t attempt to put a dollar figure on her impact on the university, the state, or the sport, but instead zeroes in on things that -can- be measured.

Plus, there’s all of the merchandising, including sales of black-and-gold t-shirts and jerseys emblazoned with the number 22. Even country music superstar Tim McGraw wore a Caitlin Clark jersey on-stage during his concert in Des Moines last week.

Caitlin Clark (photo by Tim Schoon, University of Iowa)

Ohlmann compares the “economic fervor” surrounding Clark’s rise to fame alongside other female celebrities like Beyonce or Taylor Swift, noting, it’s not been a male-dominated economy for some time.

A report released by Common Sense Institute Iowa, what’s billed as a “non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Iowa’s economy,” says “Clarkonomics” has generated more than 82-million dollars in increased community and state consumer spending. Again, Ohlmann doesn’t try to attach a figure to Clark’s appeal, and he doubts her meteoric rise in popularity will fizzle once the N-C-double-A tournament ends — along with her college career — as she joins the W-N-B-A. The question remains, will Hawkeye women’s basketball games sell out -next- season and will interest in the sport thrive -after- Clark leaves Iowa City?

He calls Clark a “generational talent” but remains confident a strong following has been cemented in Iowa women’s basketball, and that the dedication to Hawkeye hoops will continue long after she’s headed to the pros.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State was able to secure a postseason bid this past weekend at the Big 12 Championships, as it was announced that it will be heading to Gainesville, Fla., to compete in the Florida regional. The Cyclones will join the likes of No. 4 Florida, No. 13 Missouri, No. 20 Georgia, and No. 30 Clemson.

ISU will square off with Clemson on April 4 for the right to advance to a quad-meet against the other three teams on April 6. The last time Iowa State participated in a “play-in” was 2022, when the team defeated Western Michigan to advance to the Fort Worth Regional quad-meet.

After a brief one-year hiatus from postseason play, first-year Head Coach Ashley Miles Greig has led the team back into the spotlight that is the postseason.

The Cyclones will make their 15th Regional appearance in the last 17 seasons, as the team is set to compete in the O’Connell Center on Florida’s campus, having done so previously on March 15.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three University of Iowa gymnasts have been selected to compete in the 2024 NCAA Regionals, it was announced Monday morning during the 2023 NCAA Selection Show.

Junior Ilka Juk and sophomores Emily Erb and Karina Muñoz were selected to represent Iowa at the NCAA California Regional. The GymHawks will compete April 4^th-7^th at the Walter A. Haas Jr. Pavilion on the campus of University of California, Berkeley.

Juk will compete on beam in regionals for the second time in her career. She has a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 9.900 and a season-high score of 9.925 on the event. The Vancouver, Canada, native is ranked seventh in the Big Ten on the beam and earned second-team all-Big Ten honors in her first season as a Hawkeye.

Erb will represent the GymHawks on the floor. She has a NQS of 9.895 with a season-high score of 9.950 against Nebraska (2/4). The Flemington, N.J., native competed on the floor at every meet this season where she had three top-three finishes. Erb ranks 20^th in the Big Ten on the event.

Muñoz has been selected to compete in the all-around at Regionals. She has an NQS of 39.470 and a season-high score of 39.575. The East Brunswick, N.J., native earned first-team all-conference honors this season and won 13 event titles, including three in the all-around. Muñoz ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 28^th nationally in the all-around this season.

Head coach Larissa Libby has now led Iowa to 24 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances (as a team and/or individuals) during her Hawkeye tenure. The 2024 season is Libby’s 20th as Iowa’s head coach and 24th overall with the program.

The full release and regional information can be found at ncaa.com.

The Minnesota Wild signed Wild prospect Riley Heidt to a three-year, entry-level contract which will start next season. The 2023 second round pick (64th overall) has 34 goals and 114 points in 65 games for Prince George of the Western Hockey League. He’s the third player in the history of Prince George to score 100 points and is the all-time assist leader. The 18-year-old forward will either have to play with the N-H-L club next season or go back to Prince George. Matt Hendicks, a former NHL’er now working as the assistant director of player development, joined KFAN’s Beyond the Pond on Saturday morning:

On what he likes about Riley Heidt as a player:

On SCSU defenseman Jake Peart, a Wild second round pick in 2021:

On what Peart’s strengths are:

On defenseman Daemon Hunt, a Wild third round pick in 2020, who spent most of the season in Iowa but also got 12 games with the big club:

On the American Hockey League and making the jump from Iowa to Minnesota:

On Wild rookie Marat Khusnutdinov now five games into his NHL career:

CAM Cougars girls golf is off and running. The Cougars will be coached by Joe Wollum this season.

Coach Wollum recapped how last year went.

Coach Wollum commented well the girls will be get better as the season goes along.

Coach Wollum talked about what his squad has been working on in practice.

Coach Wollum elaborated what it’s going to be like playing in the Rolling Valley Conference this season.

Coach Wollum mentioned on what his team’s goals are for the year.

The Cougars Girls first varsity golf meet will be Tuesday March 26th for the AHSTW Triangular at Avoca Country Club. That golf meet will start at 4:00 p.m.

STANFORD, California – Iowa State (21-12, 12-6 Big 12) lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Stanford (30-5, 15-3 Pac-12) on Sunday night 87-81 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Cyclones were led by an elite 36-point performance by Emily Ryan, making for the second straight game a Cyclone has scored 30-plus.

Iowa State came out hot shooting at 6-of-8 from deep to lead 23-16 after the opening quarter, while Ryan put up a 15-point first half giving Iowa State a 33-31 edge. In a game of 18 lead changes and 12 ties, the Cyclones gave the Cardinal all they could take forcing overtime but came up short to end a memorable season.

Ryan was magnificent throughout the night, going out to a career-high 36 for her first 30 point game. That total now ties the second-highest single-game mark in ISU NCAA Tournament history, matching Ashley Joens’ mark set in the first round in 2022. The guard made 12 field goals to set the second-highest single-game program total. Ryan, who officially broke the NCAA Championships career assist program assist record in the first round, upped the record to 57. Ryan brings her tournament assist total to 18, tying the No. 5 single-tournament total in school history.

Ryan came one rebound shy of a double-double while adding four assists, two blocks and a steal to her final stat line. Ryan had six 3-pointers to match her career high.

Addy Brown had a stellar night totaling 18 points (7-of-11 shooting) and four 3-pointers to match her career high. ISU totaled 12 3-pointers, its 11th game with 10 or more 3-pointers. Audi Crooks had her 32nd-straight double-figure scoring outing with 10 points, also pulling down eight rebounds.

Heartbreak for the Iowa State women in the NCAA Tournament. Brooke Demetre’s three pointer with 18 seconds remaining in overtime gave Stanford the lead for good as the fifth ranked Cardinal edged the Cyclones 87-81 in Palo Alto. ISU finishes with a record of 21-12.

That is Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. The Cyclones had a late three point lead in regulation and nearly pulled off a stunning upset.

Emily Ryan led the Cyclones with 36 points.

Ryan felt it was a special season for the Cyclones.

After leading Drake to six seasons of 20 wins or more Darian DeVries has left to become the new coach at West Virginia. The Bulldogs won two straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles and played in the NCAA Tournament three times in the last four years. Drake AD Brian Hardin.

Hardin says he was first contacted by West Virginia AD Wren Baker the day after the Bulldogs lost to Washington State in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs have a talented, young roster and Hardin says his first priority is to find the right coach.

Hardin would not say if two-time Missouri Valley Player of the Year Tucker Deries will follow his father to West Virginia despite numerous reports that he will. Hardin says the Bulldog program is in a great place because of the success Darian DeVries enjoyed.

Iowa’s defense was non existent Sunday night in an NIT loss at Utah. The Utes had seven three pointers in the opening half and used a late 13-0 run prior to halftime in a 91-82 victory.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. The Hawkeyes finish the season with a record of 19-15.

Patrick McCaffery led the Hawkeyes with 19 points.