Caitlin Clark, now a rising star with the Indiana Fever, couldn’t help but take notice when she stumbled upon a passionate pre-game pep talk by Iowa’s enthusiastic hype-woman, Mama Zee.
The video, which quickly gained attention online, shows Mama Zee rallying the Iowa women’s basketball team with raw intensity before a matchup against UNC Greensboro.
The charismatic speech featured Mama Zee urging the players to channel the energy they had when they first tried out for the team.
“If we don’t win, we can never play ball again. You hear me? It’s about to be some pressure,” she stated before leading the team in a powerful “We Ready!” chant. The clip soon went viral, catching the attention of the former Iowa superstar, Caitlin Clark.
Upon seeing the video, Clark didn’t just hit the like button and move on. She was clearly fired up by the emotional pep talk and quickly commented, “Okay eat then. This had me about to go thru a brick wall … heck yeah.”
Not only that, but she tagged Iowa’s head coach Jan Jensen and assistant Raina Harmon, insisting that Mama Zee be gifted some official Iowa Women’s Basketball merchandise, remarking, “Get her Iowa WBB merch .. she deserves it.”
Iowa dominates despite Clark’s absence
Inspired by the electrifying pre-game speech, the Iowa Hawkeyes demolished UNC Greensboro 71-25, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. Leading the charge was USC’s JuJu Watkins, who contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
Ava Heiden, who seemed particularly motivated by the pep talk, delivered a standout performance with 15 points and seven rebounds – her career-high.
Reflecting on her impressive outing, Heiden said, “I think that over the past few months, I’ve been putting in a lot of extra work. That has helped me get to the confidence level and skill level coming to games like this.”
Next, Iowa faces a tougher challenge in their second-round encounter against 3-seed Oklahoma. The Sooners have been on a hot streak, winning 10 of their last 11 games, and recently dismantled FGCU with an 81-58 win. The Hawkeyes will need to bring their A-game to topple Oklahoma, especially with the Sooners enjoying home-court advantage.
Caitlin Clark’s Ongoing Influence on Iowa Basketball
Despite her transition to the WNBA, Caitlin Clark remains a dedicated supporter of Iowa’s basketball program. She’s been spotted courtside at multiple games, often joined by her boyfriend Connor McCaffery, the son of former Iowa men’s coach Fran McCaffery.
Clark’s passion for her alma mater continues to energize the Hawkeyes’ fan base, as demonstrated by her reaction to Mama Zee‘s pep talk.
Clark’s influence on the program is undeniable. Even as she pursues her WNBA career, her loyalty to Iowa basketball remains strong. As Iowa’s success continues, it’s clear that Caitlin Clark‘s legacy extends far beyond her days on the court.
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