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Iowa basketball: Caitlin Clark signing huge for future of women’s program

By Andrew Wade

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 11: Basketballs are lined up under a basket before a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on August 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sun 89-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images )
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 11: Basketballs are lined up under a basket before a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on August 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sun 89-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images ) /
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Lisa Bluder landed the biggest recruit of her career for the women’s Iowa basketball team today when top-5 player Caitlin Clark committed to the Hawks.

While most Iowa basketball fans are reeling from the disappointing men’s performance from last night, Lisa Bluder and women’s Iowa basketball squad is reminding us that they are building something amazing of their own in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Less than a year after reaching the Elite Eight fueled by now-Dallas Wings forward Megan Gustafson, the women’s Iowa basketball team is back in action for the 2019-2020 season. And they hope to put together a repeat of last year’s fantastic run under the leadership of senior guard Kathleen Doyle.

Losing Gustafson is a huge blow, but this team still has quite a bit of talent on the floor this season, and it appears that they are going to have quite a bit of talent going forward as well.

Head Coach Lisa Bluder received incredible news today when five-star point guard and current Dowling Catholic senior Caitlin Clark committed to the Hawks. 

Clark is a 5’11” point guard who can shoot, defend, rebound, and most importantly, become the face of the Iowa basketball program for the next four seasons.

While Iowa State has managed to snag four top-100 players, landing the 4th overall player is enough to make Iowa basketball fans happy as Clark will be paired with three-star recruits Sharon Goodman and Lauren Jenson.

From a talent perspective, Clark is likely to step in and start right for the soon-to-be-departed Doyle, but this commitment really impacts the future of recruitment for the Iowa basketball team. Clark is a transcendent talent that can draw in other top recruits to come to play for Bluder and the Hawks.

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With Gustafson going down as the best women’s basketball player in program history, Bluder managed to find someone with nearly as much potential just a year later. While only time will tell, this could be the recruiting find Bluder needed to take this women’s team even farther in the postseason.