After record-breaking scorer Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA, Iowa women’s basketball had a lot of shoes to fill. However, coach Lisa Bluder and the Hawkeyes believe they have found the solution in standout Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen.
Although it is unfair to compare Olsen to Clark, the two guards definitely share a comparable skill set when it comes to passing and scoring punch. With Olsen leading the way, this new-look club should be able to function without one of the greatest college basketball players ever.
The Hawkeyes do have Hannah Stuelke returning. She and Olsen will lead Bluder’s anticipated starting five, which also includes Taylor McCabe, Sydney Affolter, and Ava Heiden.
Along with Clark, the Hawkeyes also had to replace Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and Molly Davis from a team that advanced past elites LSU and UConn in the Big Dance before losing to undefeated South Carolina in the title game.
Olsen averaged 4.8 boards, 3.8 assists, and 1.9 steals in addition to her impressive scoring ability. She will also be crucial to Iowa’s defensive changes.
With her all-time high of 3,951 career points at Iowa, Clark broke multiple scoring records. She also demonstrated a passing ability that very few players in the women’s game have ever possessed. Clark’s nightly shooting display extended well beyond the realm of basketball as she often sank 3-pointers from far beyond the arc.
Hawkeye Insider claims that Clark will continue to benefit from her lucrative college sponsorship agreements, which include endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, Bose, State Farm, and other companies, in the WNBA.
At the next level, Clark’s influence will be seen right away because 36 of the Fever’s 40 regular-season games will be televised nationally by ESPN.
For the previous five seasons, her final collegiate game had the highest viewership of any basketball game on any network. Clark stated she knows her skills will transfer to the faster, more competitive game and anticipates a “learning curve” that will make for a “nice challenge” in the WNBA.
I recorded this on paper when I was in second grade,” Clark revealed in a recent interview with Today.” “I’ve always wanted to do things like play in the WNBA and receive a basketball scholarship.
In the professional levels, Clark has an abundance of fuel to continue her competitive fire as the all-time greatest scorer in college basketball. The majority of her teammates, most notably 10-time Phoenix Mercury all-star Diana Taurasi, are hesitant to think she’ll make an impact as a Day 1 superstar.
This is where I wanted to be, says Cooper DeJean, an Iowan who is eager for a fresh challenge.
Cooper DeJean of Iowa was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 40 overall on Friday, making him the highest-drafted defensive back in the Kirk Ferentz era. DeJean, who will go down as one of the all-time great Hawkeyes, was an adaptable playmaker for Iowa and will try to assist the Eagles pass defense get back on track.