Iowa Women's Basketball is looking to reload the roster after the 2024-2025 season. The Hawkeyes lost four players to graduation and Aaliyah Guyton entered the transfer portal. One of those players includes star guard Lucy Olsen.
Olsen was a star for the Hawkeyes in her lone season in Iowa City. She led the Hawkeyes in points per game (17.9) and assists per game (5.1) en route to earning First Team All-Big Ten, First Team All-Big Ten Tournament Team, and All-American Honorable Mention honors.
The Hawkeyes are adding a talented freshman class, but are also looking to the transfer portal to round out the roster. This weekend, the Hawkeyes are hosting a talented guard from UCLA.
NEWS: Sources tell me Elina Aarnisalo (UCLA transfer) is on a visit to Iowa this weekend and has a scheduled visit to UNC next. pic.twitter.com/lGFXFnvciH
— E J 🏀 (@EJayArrow) April 12, 2025
After spending her freshman season with the UCLA Bruins, Elina Aarnisalo entered the transfer portal. Aarnisalo was a key contributor for a Bruins squad that finished 34-3 (16-2 Big Ten) and made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
During her freshman season, Aarnisalo averaged 5.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game. She was better as a starter, averaging 8.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 10 starts.
The five-foot-ten Finnish guard shot 54.7 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from three-point range last season.
If Aarnisalo joins the Hawkeyes, she will give Iowa another solid ball handler who could push freshman phenom Addie Deal to the off-guard position. She could also come off the bench and provide an offensive spark.
After Sydney Affolter and Lucy Olsen graduated, the Hawkeyes are searching for more shooting to sprinkle in with their talented sophomores and incoming recruiting class. Aarnisalo is a versatile guard who could start or come off the bench and provide some much-needed shooting.