NCAA BASKETBALL
Why did Caitlin Clark change the name on her jersey to ‘Keough’?
On the back of No. 22, the name “Keough” was seen instead of “Clark” in honor of family friend Dan Keough, who battled colon cancer.
Although not well known yet, Caitlin Clark is quickly becoming a star in the world of women’s basketball. Despite her young age, her exceptional talent and achievements have gained her attention and recognition.
Clark’s journey began in seventh grade when she started receiving scholarship offers. By eighth grade, she had already received multiple Division I offers and competed against older, more experienced high school seniors. Currently, Clark is a student-athlete at the University of Iowa, where she continues to impress on the court.
Last year, Clark made history by recording the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA tournament history, showcasing her versatility and skill. She also played a crucial role in leading the Hawkeyes to the Final Four for the first time in three decades, where they later lost against the national champions, LSU.
In addition to her on-court achievements, Clark is also a vocal advocate for women’s sports and gender equality. She believes that women’s sports deserve the same recognition and support as men’s sports and is actively working to elevate the profile of women’s basketball. It’s not strange that Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey is among the top-selling merchandise in college sports.
The name change
During the Iowa-Illinois game on Sunday, the name “Keough” was seen on the back of No. 22 instead of the usual “Clark.” This was done in honor of Dan Keough, a family friend who fought colorectal cancer in 2012.
The Iowa team wore pink uniforms as part of the Play 4 Kay initiative, which is a campaign that aims to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. This initiative is named after the late North Carolina State women’s basketball coach, Kay Yow, who passed away in 2009 after battling cancer for 22 years.
Who is Dan Keough?
- Dan Keough is currently serving as the Chairman and CEO at Holmes Murphy & Associates, as mentioned on his LinkedIn profile. In a post on his LinkedIn, Keough shared that he has been keeping track of Clark’s basketball career since she was in fourth grade. Like Clark, Keough is also an alumnus of the University of Iowa, where he pursued business studies from 1987 to 1991.
- This is not the first time Clark honoring him, she did it once more, exactly two years ago, after Keough praised her "grit, spirit, competitive nature, and positivity."
Each member of the Iowa team wore a different name on their jersey during the Play 4 Kay event, honoring a loved one affected by this horrible disease. It was also their lucky charm cause the Hawkeyes moved to 24-4 with this 101-85 win at home. Clark achieved her sixth triple-double of the season, which is the 16th of her career, and with this one, she took second place on the all-time list among all Division I basketball players, including men.