Iowa Women's Basketball is coming off a successful first season under new Head Coach Jan Jensen. After working as an assistant coach for Lisa Bluder for 24 years before becoming the head coach.
During her first season in charge of the program, Jensen guided the Hawkeyes to a 23-11 (10-8 Big Ten) record and was named the Spalding Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year.
Jensen was also crucial in developing star guard Lucy Olsen after she transferred from Villanova. Olsen led the Hawkeyes in points (17.9) and assists (5.1) per game in her only season with the Hawkeyes, and was named an All-American Honorable Mention.
Jansen hopes to build on last year's success in her second year. Her coaching staff remained intact, excluding Raina Harmon, who took the open head coaching position at Florida Gulf Coast University.
During the offseason, Jensen added LaSondra Barrett to her staff, and on Monday, a familiar face joined the coaching staff in a new capacity.
After graduating from the program following last season, former Hawkeye Sydney Affolter joined the Hawkeyes as a graduate assistant. Affolter led the Hawkeyes during the past few seasons and will now lead in a different capacity.
During her senior season, Affolter averaged a career-high 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Affolter appeared in 128 total games with 44 starts for the Hawkeyes.
During the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, she attended the "So You Want To Be A Coach" seminar in Tampa Bay. Affolter is excited to return to the Hawkeyes in a coaching capacity.
"It's an honor to give back and support this team in a new role. I can't wait to get started. As always, Go Hawks!"Sydney Affolter, Iowa WBB Grad Assistant