Teary-eyed Jan Jensen gives emotional ode to Iowa legend Lisa Bluder, lauds her for tackling first Final Four "shenanigans" around Caitlin Clark & Co

Jan Jensen added the finishing touch to Lisa Bluder's tribute at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday. She commended the former head coach for steering Iowa's program to new heights, wishing that she get inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jensen also thanked her stars for having front-row access to Bluder's leadership for 24 years.

The most heartwarming instance came when Jensen recounted the Hawkeyes' first Final Four run in the 2022-23 season. The first-year coach lauded Lisa Bluder for handling all the noise around the team with grace and quick thinking.

"What I really respected is she went out and she went out on her terms and I think she showed people how to be a champion, unfortunately without the ultimate," Jensen said (1:00).

"I think as she handled the first Final Four and all the shenanigans around it in a split second, all the questions, I'll never forget that. I'll never forget the speech she delivered after we lost to South Carolina last year. Class. Leader. Friend."

Lisa Bluder's first Final Four run in 2023 was marked with several controversial instances.

Caitlin Clark, due to her constant trash-talking in the NCAA Tournament, garnered a lot of media and fan attention. The narrative reached its peak when LSU star Angel Reese resorted to Clark's imitation of John Cena's "You can't see me" gesture and referred to her ring finger to indicate the Tigers' impending championship.

The game also came with its fair share of controversial calls against both teams. Nevertheless, Lisa Bluder praised her roster and thanked the fans, expressing gratitude for her coaching role and congratulating the Tigers for the win.

"I just want to congratulate LSU," she said. "I thought they played a phenomenal game. They shot the ball really, really well today..."

Lisa Bluder defends Caitlin Clark's Athlete of the Year criticism

While fans argued, several renowned names in the basketball space also questioned Caitlin Clark's Athlete of the Year award by Time Magazine in December. However, Lisa Bluder stepped up to defend her former guard while speaking with USA Today Sports next week.

"I mean, this is a person that's really helped athletics, helped women's sports in a way that nobody has helped women's sports, maybe since Billie Jean King," she said. "So, let's get on the bandwagon and help her out, make her life a little bit easier because she is helping all of us."

Bluder also urged everyone to practice the mindset that when Caitlin Clark is in the limelight, everybody gets to shine, citing that her success benefits the WNBA.