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Hannah Stuelke's historic career proves how challenging it will be to replace her

Stuelke is one of only a few players to notch a specific career mark
Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke (45) reaches for a loose ball March 23, 2026 during a Round of 32 NCAA March Madness game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke (45) reaches for a loose ball March 23, 2026 during a Round of 32 NCAA March Madness game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2025-2026 season was shorter than anyone expected it to be, but what a career it was for senior forward Hannah Stuelke.

After star Lucy Olsen moved on to the WNBA, Stuelke was projected to take a massive leap as one of Iowa's best players this season, and while she was overshadowed by Ava Heiden's emergence, she had another solid season.

Stuelke finished the season averaging 13.4 points and a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game, and was one of Iowa's veteran leaders.

Even though her Iowa career has come to an end, Stuelke etched her name in the history books following a stellar senior season.

Stuelke is now one of only four players in program history to notch a specific feat

Stuelke embodied what it meant to be a Hawkeye, putting in the work and grinding until she became a staple of the lineup for three years.

She received a lot of unwarranted criticism throughout her career, but she didn't let the noise get to her, and now she is in the record books.

After adding 429 total points and 289 rebounds this season, Stuelke joined an elite group in Iowa program history.

She became one of only four players to compile 1,500-plus points and 900-plus rebounds in a career, compiling 1,565 total points and 910 total rebounds.

She joined former teammate Caitlin Clark (3,951 points, 990 rebounds) as the two most recent Hawkeyes to accomplish that feat, and it cannot be understated how much she meant to the program during her four seasons in Iowa City.

After graduation, it is unclear if Stuelke will pursue a career in professional basketball, and if it is the last time we see her suit up, what a wild ride it has been.

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