Caitlin Clark’s successor celebrates title triumph during WNBA off season

Former Iowa star Lucy Olsen, who succeeded Caitlin Clark at Iowa and now plays for Washington Mystics, won the WNBL title with Townsville Fire in Australia.

Former Iowa standout Lucy Olsen has captured the Women’s National Basketball League championship with Townsville Fire, after joining the Australian squad to compete during the WNBA offseason.

Olsen, 22, currently suits up for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA, having been picked in the second round of the 2025 draft. Olsen was drafted out of Iowa after transferring to the Hawkeyes in 2024 to fill the shoes of generational talent Caitlin Clark.

Clark has since gone head-to-head with Olsen on the WNBA floor, but whilst she has chosen to rest during the offseason, her fellow Iowa graduate has been playing elsewhere. After joining the Fire, Olsen helped guide the franchise to its fifth championship, and first since 2023. It comes with Clark’s college record now in doubt after the emergence of a new rising star.

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Olsen contributed 15 points and dished out five assists in a 108-105 overtime triumph over the Perth Lynx. Courtney Woods shined with 28 points, despite taking an elbow to the head during the third quarter.

Beyond securing the championship, Olsen was honored as WNBL Sixth Woman of the Year, an award given to the most outstanding player off the bench. Olsen opted to play overseas during the WNBA offseason, as athletes still frequently seek employment outside the league due to modest salaries.

Whilst the WNBA is currently negotiating with players over a new collective bargaining agreement that would significantly boost salaries, modifications have yet to be put in place. Meanwhile, WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier took matters into their own hands.

The two celebrities established Unrivaled, a fresh 3-on-3 basketball league that operates during the winter months. Despite only lasting a few weeks, the league offers higher salaries than the WNBA.

Several WNBA players have joined the league, but Clark has so far declined invitations. Thanks to her numerous off-court endorsement deals, Clark isn’t under the same financial strain as others.

Olsen chose not to sign with Unrivaled and instead flew to Australia to continue playing before the WNBA season resumes. After coming off the bench during her rookie season with Washington, Olsen was seeking more basketball practice.

Upon joining the league, Olsen received advice from former Iowa stars Clark and Kate Martin. “[They said to] keep working hard,” Olsen shared.

“You never know what your path is going to be, but if you want it, and you keep working for it, you’ll get the opportunity.”

Olsen continues to look up to Clark and played for the Hawkeyes when her jersey was retired. February 2, 2025, was a memorable day for Iowa, as Olsen helped lead the Hawkeyes to a surprise victory over USC before Clark’s jersey was honored.

“It all felt surreal,” Olsen recalled of the moment. “I was living in the moment, I was trying to, but I’m like ‘Is this happening?’ And then Caitlin Clark’s jersey is being retired and, I’m like ‘She’s like the greatest player ever’, and I’m watching her [jersey] retirement right now and we just beat USC, JuJu is sitting over there, it was so many things going on.

“It was a really cool moment, but I feel like I was a little overwhelmed. I was trying to take it all in, and I think I did a good job of that. But yeah, it was crazy.”