It's been a crazy few months for former Hawkeye forward Hannah Stuelke.
Stuelke has been a fixture of the Iowa women's basketball program for the past four seasons and was one of Iowa's top players last season. She finished the 2025-2026 season averaging close to a double-double with 13.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Stuelke had high hopes of being the next Hawkeye drafted in the WNBA Draft, but it didn't work out as she had planned.
Stuelke ultimately went undrafted, and with no WNBA offers on the table, her playing career was in limbo until Italian Serie A1 side Broni swooped in with a late offer. Now heading to Italy, she made a startling admission that will make all Hawkeye fans turn into Broni fans.
Stuelke revealed she nearly gave up on playing pro basketball
Going undrafted is always a big blow to the potential future of college basketball players, and the uphill climb for Stuelke almost led her to give up entirely.
Hannah Stuelke was on the verge of finishing her basketball career, before Serie A1 club Broni called her.
— Jack Lido (@JackLido) June 13, 2026
The Iowa grad says her first pro team will run an offense similar to this past season's Hawkeye offense. She's set to start in Italy this September. pic.twitter.com/SOaqOLBAAq
Stuelke revealed to KCRG TV-9 sports director Jack Lido that before Broni called, she was on the verge of hanging it up. A shocking revelation from a player who was a staple of the Iowa women's program since she joined from Cedar Rapids Washington High School. Broni single-handedly saved her professional playing career, giving her an opportunity to continue playing basketball overseas.
Another benefit for Stuelke is that Broni will run a similar offense to the one Jan Jensen and Iowa ran last season, which will hopefully shorten her learning curve. Everything has been breaking in Stuelke's favor recently, and even though she isn't in the WNBA, her pro career is just beginning.
Stuelke is a solid fit for Broni with her interior presence and rebounding prowess, and she has the chance to make an immediate impact on a depleted Broni roster. All Hawkeye fans are now Broni fans, and everyone is wishing Hannah success in her first professional season in Italy.
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