Watch: Iowa's Clark avoids injury after collision with Ohio State fan

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Iowa's Caitlin Clark avoids injury after big collision with court-storming Ohio State fan

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 1/21/24

The No. 18 ranked Ohio State women's basketball team pulled off a huge upset on Sunday by knocking off Caitlin Clark and the No. 2 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, 100-92, resulting in a storming of the court in Columbus.

That court-storming incident came with a price as an Ohio State fan was seen colliding into Clark as she was leaving the court. Clark immediately dropped to the floor and needed assistance in getting to the locker room. The good news is that Iowa announced after the game that Clark was able to avoid serious injury in the collision.

UPDATE: Iowa spokesman told me Caitlin Clark was not injured during this collision while fans stormed the court. https://t.co/Z5JLCTYLO4
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 21, 2024

Court-storming (and field-storming during football season) is a controversial topic for several reasons, ranging from whether or not a victory is worthy of it, to whether or not it should ever be done. There is a significant safety risk involved for players, fans and arena staff, and many conferences will fine programs for it.

Watching one of the biggest stars in college basketball get plowed over by a fan and needing help off the field will only further that argument. Both Iowa and Ohio State are fortunate that she was able to avoid serious injury.

Clark said after the game it was a great atmosphere and she had no issue with fans storming the court, but that she was simply blindsided.

Caitlin Clark said it was a great atmosphere at the Schott. She said it was totally fine that Ohio State fans stormed the court but she was blindsided by a fan. She said she's okay and athletic director Gene Smith already came to apologize to her.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) January 21, 2024