NCAAW: Post-Caitlin Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes declare, “We got next!”

It is the dawn of a new season for the Iowa Hawkeyes—with an emphasis on new.

They are chartering a new course after two years of being in the glare of the Caitlin Clark-fueled national spotlight, which culminated in back-to-back NCAA national championship game appearances. The Hawkeyes became a phenomenon, drawing sold-out crowds and huge television ratings.

Since their loss to South Carolina in the 2024 title game, the core of the team has left. Lisa Bluder retired after 24 years as head coach. Clark was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and was named Rookie of the Year. Kate Martin was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces. Gabby Marshall headed to grad school, as did Molly Davis.

This year, the Hawkeyes are entering the season unranked. They have a few familiar faces returning, as well as burgeoning talent on the horizon. And contrary to popular expectations, they’ve already sold out every home game for the second-consecutive season.

At the top, former assistant Jan Jensen steps in as the head coach after 25 years with the program. She is beginning her first season not only with a different roster, but also with a schedule reflecting a different Big Ten conference, as the Hawkeyes are set to play conference newcomers USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington. Through all these changes, Jensen is focused on getting the players to look ahead, rather than look back at what was. At Iowa’s Media Day, she told Swish Appeal:

I think what’s important, especially with them, is that you just got to keep them looking in the windshield. We talked a lot about, “Take that rearview mirror down,” especially for the returners, but even for the freshman because it’s all new and you got to keep looking ahead. The next opportunity is what I really want them to focus on and reminding them that it is a process.

While Jensen recognizes the challenge of playing against the talented teams coming into the Big Ten, she chooses to emphasize the potential of her players. She noted:

It’s always a journey and the Big Ten got tougher. The players are really really good. It is just really challenging them to stay in this moment because if you listen too much to everybody telling you how great everybody else is and how much you lost, then it can seem be a little heavy. I just like how they are leaning into, “They got next.” I want them to really embrace that because we have added some great teams. I have the utmost respect for all four of those coaches and their programs, but we also have amazing teams still here. I mean Brenda (Frese) at Maryland, they’re great. Teri Moren at Indiana [is] great. We’ve had a great league [and] every game is going to be a challenge, but that’s what makes it fun. I just keep reminding them to embrace this moment and who they are. I think if everybody will just let this year’s team be this year’s team and not the one back there and not projecting what they should do or could be, but let this all kind of ruminate and kind of start figuring it out, I really think they can have a nice level of success despite how great all the schools are.

Among the players returning are forwards Hannah Stuelke, AJ Ediger and Addison O’Grady, as well as guards Syd Affolter, Taylor McCabe and Kylie Feuerbach. Stuelke and Affolter are expected to take on leadership roles, although Affolter is out until early November after undergoing knee surgery.

Stuelke is a fan favorite who generally lets her game do the talking for her. She is known for scoring in bunches in the paint, being solid in transition and providing consistent rebounding. Last year, she scored 20-plus points eight times and 10-plus points in 25 games. Stuelke unleashed a 47-point performance against Penn State, the second-highest point total scored in Carver Hawkeye Arena. Given her experience, she is adamant about proving the naysayers wrong, telling Swish Appeal:

I am ready to get out there and show everybody what I’ve got. I think a lot of people are doubting that we will be good or whatever because Caitlin’s gone. I think I was right there behind her for most of the games where she’d have 35 and I had 20. I am just excited to show people what I’ve got.

The Hawkeyes effectively utilized the transfer portal to make up for critical losses. They snatched up Lucy Olsen from Villanova, who can score effectively from the mid-range. Last year, she finished third in the nation in scoring at 23.3 points per game. She also left Villanova as the program’s ninth all-time leading scorer with 1,504 points. Olsen is known for having an upbeat personality. She is someone who always seems to enjoy being on the floor, no matter the circumstances. She shared:

I’ve always been a smiling person on the court. I don’t realize it. At Villanova, I would have the worst game ever and the people were like, “Sorry you loss, but it looked like you had fun.” I was like, “I did?” I did not have too much. I hate losing and I played horrible. I think it is just nature that I’m smiling. I love basketball so much and to be able to play it every night, I am really having fun.

At Villanova, Olsen was accustomed to playing at a more methodical pace. This time around, she will be playing for a program which prioritizes quickness. She explained:

It is different at Villanova, at Villanova it was slow pace. If we were in transition we would go, but if not we would slow down and set up a play. “Alright, let’s use the shot clock until we get something really good.” But here it has been super different. “Alright, we are looking for transition first. If we don’t have anything, go with the secondary.”

The Hawkeyes’ success also has helped the program attract top recruits. One of those was Ava Heiden. The 6-foot-4 post player from Sherwood, Oregon averaged 17.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.0 assists and 2.8 blocks at Sherwood High School. According to ESPN’s HoopGurlz, she was the No. 42 overall prospect in the nation. And despite what some would expect, it wasn’t the high-profile attention of the program, but the people within the program, that inspired Heiden to come to Iowa City. At Media Day, she emphasized:

The hype and popularity wasn’t something that really drew me here, it was the people and the players and the staff. Being able to play with them is what excites me most coming in at this time.

Heiden is expected to compliment Stuelke in the post. So far, she has managed to take pointers from her during practice, noting:

It’s been super fun, especially when she plays the 4 position and we are in together. She’s a great driver and so she will give me the little dish passes or I’ll set a screen for her. I think we are meshing really well together.

As a freshman, Heiden looks forward to debuting against the prominent programs that are new to the Big Ten, including the one from her home state. She shared:

I think it is super cool, especially Oregon, because I can fly home and see my friends and family and all that. I think that we can definitely say that the Big Ten is the best conference.

Like her new coach and fellow teammates, Heiden also is focused on taking the pressure off and just playing basketball, saying:

I say my mantra is “Work hard and have fun.” That’s something that my parents always taught me and so I try to keep that on the forefront of my mind when playing basketball. I can’t control anything outside of what’s on the court, sometimes even stuff on the court. All I can do is work hard and have fun.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will play their first game against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.