Caitlin Clark may be the face of women’s basketball and the rising superstar of the Indiana Fever, but she hasn’t forgotten the people who helped shape her journey. This week, Clark melted hearts on social media after reacting to a surprising and uplifting moment involving her former Iowa teammate, Jada Gyamfi.
Gyamfi, now a senior forward for the Hawkeyes, was photographed posing confidently with Mickey Mouse during a team trip to a Disney park — a moment that would seem ordinary for most people, but for Gyamfi, it was a major personal milestone. The Iowa standout has openly shared her intense fear of mascots, describing the phobia in detail during an August 2024 appearance on the Fresh Tawk podcast.
“My biggest fear… it’s making my stomach hurt just to think about it,” Gyamfi said then, explaining that mascots — especially Herky the Hawk — completely terrify her. She recalled several “traumatizing experiences,” including a moment when Herky chased her through the tunnel after a game, forcing her to hide in a bathroom while teammates celebrated. Herky, she joked, “trolls me every chance he gets.”
That history made her cheerful photo with Mickey Mouse all the more impressive — and Caitlin Clark took notice. Clark reposted Iowa Women’s Basketball’s photo and reel to her Instagram Stories, adding a loving message to her former teammate:
“Love this pose!!! Just awesome girl.”
Clark and Gyamfi played together from 2022 to 2024, forming part of the powerhouse Iowa core that fueled deep NCAA Tournament runs and brought national attention to the Hawkeyes program. Even after Clark’s move to the WNBA, the bond remains intact. She frequently supports her former teammates publicly, highlighting how the Iowa sisterhood continues to thrive long after jersey numbers change.
For fans, Gyamfi’s moment was funny, sweet, and inspiring. For Gyamfi, it represented real progress. And for Clark, it was one more chance to lift up someone she’s grown with — a reminder that even as careers evolve, the Hawkeye connection
