Caitlin Clark 'Keough' jersey, explained: Why star had a different name on her jersey during Iowa's pink game

Bryan Murphy

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Caitlin Clark 'Keough' jersey, explained: Why star had a different name on her jersey during Iowa's pink game image

Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jersey is among the top-selling merchandise in college sports. In the crowds at Carver-Hawkeye Stadium, it's easy to spot plenty of fans sporting "Clark" on the back of a shirt. 

Her name has become synonymous with women's basketball, as Clark is on the early track to be placed among greats like Bird, Taurasi, Stewart, and Parker.

However, on Sunday afternoon, there was a different name on her jersey. 

The No. 4 Hawkeyes moved to 24-4 with a resounding 101-85 win over Illinois at home. While black and yellow colors were seen all over the crowd, pink was the vibrant color of the day on the court.

Iowa donned pink in the uniforms as a part of the Play 4 Kay initiative, a campaign that aims to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. It's in honor of legendary North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who died in 2009 after a 22-year battle. 

The color wasn't the only difference. The names on the back of the players' jerseys were not their own. Here's more to know about why Clark sported "Keough" on the back of her jersey.

MORE: Caitlin Clark records 16th career triple-double in Iowa win

Caitlin Clark 'Keough' jersey, explained

Clark was not the name seen on the back of No. 22 in the Iowa-Illinois matchup. Instead, it was "Keough," in honor of family friend Dan Keough, who battled colorectal cancer in 2012.

Each member of the Iowa contingent had a different name on the back of their jersey. It was a way of paying tribute to a loved one during their Play 4 Kay breast cancer awareness game.

Dan Keough is the chairman and CEO at Holmes Murphy & Associates, according to his LinkedIn. 

In a post on his LinkedIn, Keough said that he has been following along with Clark's basketball career since she was in fourth grade. Keough is an Iowa grad himself, having attended the university for business from 1987-91. 

This isn't the first time Clark has honored Keough. When she did so in 2022, the businessman posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "honored" to have his name on the back of Clark's jersey. He also praised her "grit, spirit, competitive nature, and positivity."

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.