A former Hawkeye celebrates a new chapter
Former Iowa women’s basketball player Sydney Affolter has reached a new milestone after announcing her engagement to Brennen Dorighi. The news brought a warm reaction from former teammate Caitlin Clark, who shared an enthusiastic message on Instagram.
Their exchange highlights the connection that remains among players who shared the court in Iowa City. Here’s a look at Affolter’s engagement, Clark’s reaction, and their basketball history.
Caitlin Clark responds to the announcement
Clark responded directly to Affolter’s Instagram post with an enthusiastic congratulatory message. Her comment read, “Yyayayayayayaya loveeeee congrats!!!” and appeared among reactions from other people connected to Affolter.
The exchange was reported on September 21, 2026, after Affolter’s engagement announcement. It provides a documented example of Clark publicly acknowledging a former Iowa teammate’s personal milestone.
Affolter finished her Iowa career in 2025
Affolter completed her fourth and final Iowa season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Chicago native finished that season averaging 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds while starting 32 of 33 games.
Iowa also recognized Affolter with honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media and its Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. She finished her Hawkeye career with 128 games played and 44 starts.
Affolter stayed with Iowa after playing
After finishing her playing career, Affolter remained connected to Iowa women’s basketball. The university announced in May 2025 that she would become a graduate student employee for the 2025-26 season.
Her new position moved her into a support and coaching-related role with the program. Iowa said Affolter had completed her bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management before beginning the position.
Affolter showed growth in her final season
Affolter’s final Iowa season included several career milestones. She scored a career-high 24 points against Michigan, made four three-pointers in that game, and recorded 15 rebounds twice during the 2024-25 campaign.
She also recorded six double-doubles that season, bringing her career total to eight. Iowa listed her among the program’s players since 2009 to record at least 15 rebounds in a single game.
Clark and Affolter shared the Iowa court
Clark and Affolter were teammates at Iowa before Clark entered the WNBA in 2024. During the 2023-24 season, Affolter was a junior while Clark was a senior, and Iowa reached the Final Four.
In Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Colorado, Clark recorded 29 points and 15 assists while Affolter scored 15 points. In the Elite Eight win over LSU, Clark had 41 points and 12 assists while Affolter scored 16 points.
Affolter contributed during Iowa’s 2024 run
Affolter played an important supporting role during Iowa’s 2024 postseason. She scored 18 points against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament and later added double-digit performances during the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa won the Big Ten Tournament that March for a third consecutive season. Clark earned tournament MVP honors, while Affolter posted 11 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game against Nebraska.
Interesting fact: Caitlin Clark was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Iowa reached another national championship game
Iowa advanced to the 2024 national championship game after defeating LSU and UConn. Affolter scored 16 points in the LSU victory, while Clark finished with 30 points, five assists and eight rebounds against South Carolina.
The Hawkeyes lost to South Carolina, 87-75. Affolter made two free throws during Iowa’s late push, while Clark finished the 2024 NCAA Tournament holding NCAA records with 491 career tournament points, 152 assists and 78 3-point field goals.
Interesting fact: Affolter played club basketball for All Iowa Attack. During the 2020 season, her team finished with a 48-0 record and won the Nike Championship.
Affolter explored coaching opportunities
Affolter was selected for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s 2025 “So You Want To Be A Coach” class. The program helps participants understand skills and competencies connected with coaching careers in women’s basketball.
Iowa said participants were chosen using academic achievement, contributions to women’s basketball, professional experience and recommendations. Affolter attended the workshop during the 2025 Final Four in Tampa.
Clark moved into the WNBA
Clark left Iowa after the 2023-24 season and became the Indiana Fever’s No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She entered the league after finishing college as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points.
Clark won WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2024 and made the All-WNBA First Team. Her career has continued while former Iowa teammates, including Affolter, pursued different paths.
Clark had a major 2026 season
Clark recorded a 2026 WNBA performance in July, scoring 45 points and adding 10 assists against the Seattle Storm. The game produced the WNBA’s first 40-point, 10-assist performance and gave Clark a franchise scoring record.
She became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 200 career three-pointers, reaching the mark in 74 games. The Fever reached the 2026 playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
The Fever entered the 2026 playoffs
Indiana finished the 2026 regular season with a playoff berth and a first-round matchup against the Las Vegas Aces. The Fever’s official website announced the series after the team closed the regular season on September 25.
Clark appeared in Indiana’s September games, including the September 23 home game and September 25 road game. Her season provides the backdrop for her public reaction to Affolter’s announcement.
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Former Hawkeyes remain connected
Clark and Affolter now occupy different places in basketball, but their Iowa connection remains documented through public interactions. Affolter has continued working with the Hawkeye program, while Clark is competing with Indiana in the WNBA.
The engagement announcement added another personal milestone to that shared basketball history. Clark’s congratulatory Instagram comment was a direct public response, while other former Iowa players also joined the congratulations.
In other news, Angel Reese gets major WNBA spotlight after historic milestone.
What do you think of Caitlin Clark’s sweet message to her former Iowa teammate? Like this post and comment with your congratulations for Sydney Affolter!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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