Caitlin Clark Unharmed in Collision with Fan During Ohio State Court-Storming Incident

Iowa’s standout player, Caitlin Clark, found herself in an unfortunate collision with an Ohio State fan following Sunday’s game.

After Ohio State’s thrilling 100-92 overtime victory against the No. 2 Hawkeyes, exuberant Buckeyes fans rushed onto the court in celebration. In the midst of the chaos, one fan collided with Clark, highlighting the potential dangers of court-storming celebrations.

As Clark jogged off the court, the collision occurred, causing both her and the fan to tumble to the floor.

The incident marked a disappointing moment for the Hawkeyes, who had let a narrow lead slip away in the fourth quarter against the No. 18 Buckeyes. Despite Clark’s outstanding 45-point performance, Iowa suffered its first loss since November 16, conceding a season-high 100 points.

Updates on Caitlin Clark’s status after the collision, along with her comments on the incident, have been provided below.

Caitlin Clark’s Injury Update: Following the collision, an Iowa spokesperson confirmed that Caitlin Clark emerged unscathed from the incident shortly after Sunday’s game.

The 21-year-old guard assured reporters that she is doing well but had the wind knocked out of her during the collision. Ohio State’s outgoing athletic director, Gene Smith, also issued an apology to Clark in the aftermath of the incident.

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder expressed disappointment with the lack of safety precautions during court-storming incidents, stating, “Our players should be safe. They should be able to walk off the floor. That’s very disappointing.”

Despite the concerning scene, Clark’s performance on the court remained commendable as she inched closer to the NCAA Division I women’s scoring record. With 45 points in the game, she now sits just 42 points away from third-ranked Jackie Stiles and 176 points away from Kelsey Plum’s all-time record.

While victory eluded her this time, Clark seems to be in good health and is expected to face Nebraska when Iowa hosts the Cornhuskers next Saturday. With 10 regular-season games remaining, she still has ample opportunities to pursue the scoring record, with the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament looming in March.