Iowa women's basketball centerpieces make Naismith watch list for first time

Iowa has had a Naismith Player of the Year Award winner on their roster the last two seasons, adn it was the same person that every Iowa fan knows, Caitlin Clark. Clark chose to move on from college basketball and was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and led the team to the WNBA playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.

Everyone will always remember Clark's time at Iowa, but the women's basketball program is no longer in her hands, it is in the hands of the girls on the team now. The Hawkeyes are only returning two starters from last season, Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter. Iowa also has a new head coach leading the team after longtime coach Lisa Bluder retired, but the program is in good hands with longtime assistant coach Jan Jensen taking the position.

Iowa women's basketball is going to look very different this season, but this team believes they can be just as successful as they have been in years past. A lot of that is because they believe they have a stronger roster than people think they do. The loss of Clark is obviously huge; no one could ever replace her, but they brought in some players, and players within the program are ready to step up.

Two of those players ready to step up this season found themselves on the Naismith Player of the Year Award watch list, which is given to the best all-around player in the country. Both returner Steulke and new transfer Lucy Olsen have found themselves on the preseason watch list.

Steulke returns to Iowa this season as one of the top players with the most playing time from last season. The junior forward played in 35 games last season, starting in 32, and averaged 14.0 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Steukle's biggest strength in her game is her ability to move low in the paint and finish at the rim.

Olsen comes to Iowa after spending three seasons at Villanova, where she was their top scorer. Olsen was third in scoring in the country last season behind Clark and USC's Juju Watkins. The senior guard averaged 23.3 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Olsen will be able to step into the role that Clark played throughout her career as the top shooting guard on this Iowa squad.

The Naismith Player of the Year Award will be awarded to the winner on April 2, 2025.