WEST DES MOINES, IOWA \u2013 For Caitlin Clark, March 2025 has been a whirlwind. From leading Iowa in a dramatic NCAA Tournament run to being the face of college basketball across the nation, the All-American superstar has been praised for her on-court brilliance and off-court poise. But nothing prepared her fans\u2014or her hometown\u2014for what happened during a surprise visit to her alma mater, Dowling Catholic High School.<\/p>\n
What was meant to be a low-key stop to see former teachers and support staff turned into a moment that brought the entire community to tears.<\/p>\n
A Quiet Legend Still Sweeping the Halls<\/p>\n
While walking through the polished halls of Dowling Catholic, Clark paused near the gymnasium she once dominated as a high school phenom. But what caught her attention wasn\u2019t the basketball banners hanging above\u2014it was the familiar figure mopping the floor beneath them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that\u2026 Mr. Russell?\u201d she reportedly whispered to her former assistant coach.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it was.<\/p>\n
Eighty-year-old James Russell, the longtime school janitor who had worked at Dowling Catholic for over six decades, was still there, quietly going about his duties with the same pride and humility he had the day Clark first met him as a freshman.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t believe he was still working,\u201d Clark said in an emotional interview later that day. \u201cHe\u2019s the kindest man I\u2019ve ever met. Always made us laugh. Always stayed late to lock up after games. He deserves the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
And in true Caitlin Clark fashion\u2014she meant it.<\/p>\n
Her Next Move Leaves Staff and Students Speechless<\/p>\n
What happened next stunned everyone.<\/p>\n
Clark immediately asked to speak with the school\u2019s principal and financial coordinator. According to several sources, she quietly arranged to fund a full retirement package for Mr. Russell\u2014complete with healthcare coverage, a brand-new Ford truck (his had broken down three winters ago), and a $50,000 bonus to help him finally take the fishing trip to Montana he had spoken of for years but never taken.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t want attention for it,\u201d said Principal Theresa Madden. \u201cBut how could we not celebrate such a gesture? It\u2019s not just about money. It\u2019s about gratitude. Caitlin didn\u2019t forget the people who helped shape her.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Viral Moment from a Humble Hero<\/p>\n
The moment Mr. Russell was surprised with his retirement package was captured in a tear-jerking video posted to the school\u2019s Instagram page. In the footage, the elderly janitor stands stunned, trembling as Clark hugs him tightly and whispers, \u201cYou\u2019ve always taken care of us. Now it\u2019s our turn.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within hours, the video had been shared by ESPN, Bleacher Report, and dozens of celebrities. NBA legends like Magic Johnson and Dwyane Wade reposted the video, praising Clark\u2019s character and reminding the world that true greatness extends far beyond the hardwood.<\/p>\n
\u201cCaitlin Clark has the heart of a champion\u2014on and off the court,\u201d Magic Johnson wrote. \u201cThis is what leadership looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clark\u2019s gesture sparked conversations around the country about underappreciated school staff and elderly workers who continue to work past retirement age out of necessity.<\/p>\n
Soon after the story broke, Clark\u2019s agent revealed that she had committed to donating part of her upcoming NIL earnings to a scholarship fund for support staff children in Iowa public schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants to keep this going,\u201d the agent said. \u201cTo Caitlin, Mr. Russell represents countless unsung heroes across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Russell\u2019s Reaction: \u201cI Never Expected This\u201d<\/p>\n
For his part, James Russell was overwhelmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never expected this,\u201d he told a local news outlet through tears. \u201cI\u2019ve watched Caitlin grow from a little girl with a big dream to the most incredible young woman. I thought she\u2019d forget about this old janitor. But she didn\u2019t. That means more to me than I can say.\u201d<\/p>\n
He ended the interview by showing off a photo of him and Clark from 2018. \u201cBack then, I told her she was going to change the world. Guess I was right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caitlin Clark has made her mark in sports history, but perhaps her most powerful legacy is being written not through points scored, but through lives touched. In a world hungry for role models, she didn\u2019t just honor a janitor\u2014she elevated an entire generation\u2019s understanding of what it means to be human.<\/p>\n
As for Mr. Russell, he\u2019ll finally take that fishing trip this summer. And thanks to one extraordinary former student, he\u2019ll do it not out of obligation\u2014but in peace, dignity, and well-deserved joy.<\/p>\n
WNBA legend brushes off Caitlin Clark complaints as Angel Reese sends \u2018personal\u2019 message<\/p>\n
The WNBA Draft is just two weeks away, and with the eligibility deadline looming, college basketball stars are beginning to make decisions on their future.<\/p>\n
There are plenty of WNBA headlines this week as March Madness continues (Image: Michael Hickey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
With the WNBA season opener just under 50 days away and the Draft approaching in a fortnight, excitement is mounting among fans.<\/p>\n
As March Madness advances to the Final Four this week, numerous college basketball stars are mulling over their futures as they face the WNBA Draft eligibility deadline. Flau\u2019Jae Johnson remains undecided about whether she will join the Draft, after LSU\u2019s defeat with a score of 72-65 at the Elite Eight phase to UCLA.<\/p>\n
After the disappointing playoff exit for the Tigers, star player Johnson is still weighing up her options regarding the upcoming WNBA Draft. Despite the loss, there\u2019s speculation about whether she\u2019ll declare herself draft-eligible and possibly line up with former college standouts Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese \u2013 who have been making headlines themselves lately.<\/p>\n
Here we\u2019ve got all the latest news from the WNBA, including a sports icon\u2019s empowering statements directed at Clark, and a bold jab Reese took at a past college rival.<\/p>\n
Flau\u2019Jae Johnson\u2019s WNBA destiny<\/p>\n
After the heartbreak against the Bruins on Sunday evening, Johnson\u2019s next steps toward the WNBA Draft are still uncertain. The sting of the defeat seems to have left decisions hanging in the balance for her.<\/p>\n
When questioned about any news regarding her WNBA intentions, Johnson simply said: \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Due to the athlete turning 22 years old in November, she is currently eligible to enter this year\u2019s Draft \u2013 despite not having completed a full four college seasons.<\/p>\n
Johnson is also geared up for the new Unrivaled League after her collegiate career. Upon being asked about the factors weighing on her WNBA decision, the 21-year-old added: \u201cEverything. Got to talk to Coach Mulkey, talk to my family. I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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