'Crossover at Kinnick': What to know about the Iowa women's basketball game vs. DePaul
It won鈥檛 count on their season record, but the Iowa women鈥檚 basketball team is aiming to break a record when they take the court on Sunday in their Crossover at Kinnick, .
鈥淭his is an away football weekend and it鈥檚 going to be treated like a football weekend,鈥� Iowa women鈥檚 basketball head coach Lisa Bluder said.
Video above: Caitlin Clark named Big Ten preseason Player of the Year; Hawkeyes picked to win conference
Following their run to the national championship game, it was at their celebration at the Pentacrest in April that Bluder got the idea to have her team play on an even bigger stage.
鈥淚t really started when we came back from the trip and we had a celebration at the Pentacrest. There was 9,000 people there. I鈥檓 like 9,000 people are coming to a celebration where there鈥檚 no game or anything,鈥� Bluder said.
Iowa already hosted a successful non-football event with the Grapple on the Gridiron back in 2015. The Iowa wrestling team brought in a record crowd of more than 42,000 fans.
The women鈥檚 basketball team will now look to break the all-time women鈥檚 basketball attendance record which stands at 29,619.
鈥淲hy not give my women an experience that not many people around the country get to do,鈥� Bluder added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be the first women鈥檚 basketball game televised in the country. I think it brings national attention not only to our program, but to the University of Iowa.
The Crossover at Kinnick comes just months after Nebraska volleyball set a world record with over 92,000 fans filling Memorial Stadium. Reigning Naismith National Player of the Year, Caitlin Clark, said she tuned in to watch that game with the Huskers.
鈥淚 think it shows how excited people are about women鈥檚 sports in general. It doesn鈥檛 only have to be basketball, doesn鈥檛 only have to be volleyball, you know softball whatever it is, it鈥檚 just super cool,鈥� the senior guard said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine those girls feelings when they walked out of the tunnel to 90,000 plus and people screaming for them. I just know that had to be one of the coolest feelings,鈥� Clark added.
Weather forecast for 'Crossover at Kinnick,' Iowa's outdoor basketball game
The forecast for Iowa鈥檚 game against DePaul features temperatures in the 50鈥瞫 with gusty winds up to 20-30 miles per hour. Clark expects the weather to provide an extra element to their exhibition game.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to plan on shooting two air balls just because of the wind,鈥� Clark said.
Iowa women's basketball 'Crossover at Kinnick' game attendance, tickets
With more than 52,000 tickets sold, the Hawkeyes know Sunday will be historic.
鈥淚 think it will be really cool not just be a fan in the stadium, but actually getting to play, and play in front of that many people,鈥� fifth-year guard Gabbie Marshall said.
Their impact will stretch beyond their program.
鈥淭ruly playing for something bigger than ourselves. All the money we鈥檙e raising is going to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children鈥檚 Hospital. That鈥檚 an awesome feeling to know that it鈥檚 bigger than basketball,鈥� Marshall said.