A number of Iowa fans never saw the Caitlin Clark experience live, but after a full year since her departure to the WNBA, May 4 will change that.

Only a select few of Hawkeye faithful secured tickets to the Indiana Fever exhibition game against the Brazilian National Team, hosted at Iowa’s own Carver-Hawkeye Arena. And they’re in for one more look at what No. 22’s impact on Iowa City was really like.

Such a contest, which was announced on Jan. 30 in press releases by both the Fever and HawkeyeSports, will mark the return of legendary Hawkeye Caitlin Clark, who was selected by the Fever as the No. 1 draft pick last year, kicking off a record-breaking rookie season in the pros.

Clark, of course, became hugely popular for her unique deep shooting ability and equally flashy passes, fueling a career that led Iowa, then coached by Lisa Bluder, to the national championship game in back-to-back seasons. This meant when Clark’s homecoming was announced, fans were eager to get tickets, which sold out to the general public within 37 minutes of release.

For students, pricing and access had less barriers but were nevertheless still gratifying to procure. In particular, current first-years at Iowa who haven’t been at Iowa for a full season of Caitlin Clark expressed excitement at getting to see the superstar play.

First-years Brielle Major and Chase Nunemaker both bought tickets to the exhibition with Clark noted by both as a key reason for doing so.

“Freshmen like us, we didn’t get to see Caitlin Clark,” Major said. “I feel like that’s the main reason why we’re so excited to go is because we never got to see her.”

Nunemaker said even for those who have seen Clark play at Carver, the impact of her return is going to be big.

“I think it’s not only Caitlin Clark, but it mostly is because this is where she came from,” Nunemaker said in the interview. “The people that got to watch her in college get to see her again because she’s probably never going to play at Carver again.”

RELATED: Pregame: Caitlin Clark returns to Carver

Nunemaker also acknowledged how the contest is just a more recent example of Clark putting the WNBA, and indeed women’s sports as a whole, at the front of people’s minds.

“This is a really special opportunity, but it’s also a good way to promote the WNBA,” Nunemaker said. “I haven’t watched a WNBA game, but because I am a Caitlin Clark fan and Iowa fan, I want to see her play, especially at Carver, compared to driving down and seeing her play at her home stadium. So I think this is a good opportunity for everybody to get recognized.”

Major noted just the presence of Clark, regardless of whether there’s a game going or not, is enough to keep fans energized. Her jersey retirement after Iowa’s game against USC this season is a prime example.

“I think it’ll be really loud,” Major said. “Whenever she was there, people were just loud overall knowing that she was in the building, not even because she was playing. The minute she came out, the place got so loud.”

While Nunemaker and Major both noted the relative ease of getting tickets and pricing around $75, the same cannot be said for general admission tickets, which, upon selling out in just over half an hour, began being listed on resell websites like StubHub for up to $1,600.

Nunemaker ultimately summarized that Clark has made a big impact with the Fever game being a great example of this.

“We went to almost every single women’s home game, and it was crazy,” Nunemaker said. “Especially the USC game when Caitlin Clark was there. I think that game was as loud or louder than some of the football games. I think this game is going to be even louder. If Caitlin Clark makes a deep three again, I think the place is going to erupt.”

With exhibition games like that set for May 4 few and far between, many are looking forward to what could be Clark’s final showing at Carver, an encore performance kicking off what could be a monumental second season as a pro.

“Everybody’s going to be so excited to see her again,” Nunemaker said. “I think this is really huge for Caitlin Clark because she gets to play here one more time.”