Caitlin Clark had reached women’s basketball superstardom even before her WNBA career started. In looking back to her college days at the University of Iowa, Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, remembered the time her former coach, Lisa Bluder, kicked her out of practice for beefing with the other team.

In an episode of the “Fresh Tawk” podcast hosted by Jada Gyamfi, Clark, along with Iowa teammates Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, looked back at their fond memories in college when they stumbled upon their fun practice session with Bluder.

“Everyday there was something new whether it was (Clark) performing a song before practice,” Gymafi said.

The Indiana Fever star then recalled the time when Bluder threw her out.

“Coach Bluder kicking me out,” Clark said.

When asked why she was fully kicked out by the coach, Clark clarified that it was just for a drill in practice.

Clark then said she was beefing with the “blue squad,” which resulted in her being reprimanded by Bluder.

“Mine was only (because) I would beef with the blue squad,” Clark said.

Lisa Bluder was legendary in Iowa’s women’s basketball history, becoming the program’s winningest coach ever before retiring last May. She had also coached in D1 basketball for over four decades, following her collegiate career with the University of Northern Iowa.

Under Bluder’s watch, Clark broke the NCAA’s all-time scoring record in Division I basketball. The two had a ceremonious hug in Clark’s final game in college early this year.

Before retiring, Bluder steered the Hawkeyes to their second straight national championship game, giving Clark a fitting end to her terrific collegiate career in Iowa.

Caitlin Clark describes Lisa Bluder as a “player’s coach”

Clark was one of the top players Bluder has ever coached in college. With the high place she has reached in the women’s basketball realm, Clark has been vocal about the help and guidance the coach has given her throughout her collegiate career.

Ahead of their final game together in March, Clark called her coach worthy of the Hall of Fame and praised her for being a “player’s coach.”

“Coach Bluder is a Hall of Fame coach,” Clark said. “I think the biggest thing for me throughout the recruiting process that I loved about her is she’s a player’s coach. She’s not going to have a set offense that you have to run. She’s going to tailor everything to what she has on her team and what’s going to put her team in positions to be very successful.”

Clark also went on to cite her as one of the driving forces behind her success in the sport ahead of her jump to the WNBA.

Clark went on to be the first pick of the 2024 WNBA draft before winning the league’s Rookie of the Year honors.