A pair of writers from The Daily Iowan engage in a discussion regarding the potential performance of the Hawkeyes following the departure of Caitlin Clark. Kenna Roering, the Sports Editor, predicts a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten conference, while Cooper Worth, the Sports Reporter, is optimistic, citing Lucy Olsen’s addition as a factor that could propel the team to a top-three position within the conference standings.

Two words: Lucy Olsen.
The recent addition of a transfer from Villanova is poised to seamlessly step into the shoes of the departing Caitlin Clark, particularly in terms of her knack for scoring from various spots on the court. While she may not possess Clark’s exact playmaking prowess in involving her teammates, her defensive prowess compensates for it.

Olsen, whose impressive 23.3 points per game ranked her third nationally, trailing only Clark and USC’s JuJu Watkins, has shown steady improvement in her statistics throughout her tenure with the Wildcats. I anticipate this trend continuing within Iowa’s guard-oriented system.

Yet, it’s not solely about Olsen. Iowa will welcome back two starters from the previous season: forward Hannah Stuelke and guard Sydney Affolter, both of whom demonstrated significant progress on the court during their debut season with the Hawkeyes.

During Iowa’s postseason campaign, Affolter boasted averages of 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds, showcasing her impact. Meanwhile, Stuelke displayed her defensive prowess in the center position, effectively guarding against formidable post players like Angel Reese and Aaliyah Edwards. The departure of guards Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall will undoubtedly be felt, given their integral role in the team’s identity over the past four years. However, guard Kylie Feuerbach has proven herself as a reliable backup, particularly excelling in perimeter defense during the latter stages of the regular season.

Taylor McCabe embodies the tenacious, all-out effort reminiscent of Marshall, coupled with a knack for three-point shooting. Moreover, alongside the established players who contributed to Iowa’s recent successes, the team is bolstered by the arrival of four ESPN top-100 recruits in the 2024 class. It might sound optimistic, but the future appears bright for Iowa as they move forward.

Fifth in the Big Ten
I’ll afford Iowa women’s basketball some leeway for adjustment and position the Hawkeyes at fifth in the Big Ten.

While I believe Lisa Bluder’s squad has the potential to aim higher, particularly with the inclusion of guard Lucy Olsen, the Hawkeye offense has leaned heavily on Caitlin Clark for the past four years. Moreover, it’s challenging to replace the leadership of Kate Martin or the defensive prowess of Gabbie Marshall. Setting overly lofty expectations for the Hawkeyes next season wouldn’t be reasonable.

Despite Iowa losing three starters — four if we count Molly Davis before her injury — other teams in the conference are returning seasoned players and star talent.

For Nebraska, a team that contended with Iowa in the Big Ten title game, many familiar faces remain. Forward Natalie Potts started every game for the Huskers in her freshman season and earned the Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolade. Alexis Markowski provides another advantage in the paint for Nebraska. She posted career-best averages of 15.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in 2023 and has been on the Naismith Trophy Watch List for two consecutive years.

Although Ohio State claimed the Big Ten regular-season championship, their loss to Iowa just before the postseason seemed to halt their momentum. They were eliminated in the first round of the conference tournament and knocked out by Duke in the round of 32.

Despite their ending last season, Ohio State is poised to reload and present a formidable challenge next year. The Buckeyes have already secured former Oregon point guard Chance Gray from the transfer portal. Gray concluded her second season with the Ducks averaging 13.9 points per game and leading the team with three assists per contest. Incoming five-star recruit Jaloni Cambridge and four-star prospect Ava Watson will also bolster the team’s roster this summer.