Iowa Women’s Basketball Adjusts After Caitlin Clark Era
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The departure of Caitlin Clark was always going to be a challenge for the Iowa women’s basketball team. Losing Clark along with her fellow starters Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and Molly Davis? That explains why the Hawkeyes have faced difficulties this season.
However, their recent victory over USC could be the turning point they needed — a win that could lead the Hawkeyes back to prominence in the sport.
“Today really illustrated our potential. It showed that we can compete and win against any team. We’re capable of greatness,” said Addison O’Grady, one of the few returning players from the Iowa squads that reached the national championship in the past two years.
“Now we can truly believe in ourselves, especially after defeating such a talented team.”
That does not guarantee that Iowa will have another lengthy tournament run this NCAA season. Currently sitting at 12th in the Big Ten, with remaining matches against Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, and top-ranked UCLA, the Hawkeyes have a significant challenge ahead just to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Nonetheless, Iowa is looking towards the future, and a strong finish this season could accelerate that future.
“I believe this victory boosts our confidence,” coach Jan Jensen remarked after the 76-69 win over the Trojans. “I hope we can continue to accumulate wins, but it’s also about building for next year and beyond.”
“I’m just trying to maintain consistency,” Jensen added. “But this win against a top-four team is incredibly significant. I’m very proud of our players, and I plan to build on this achievement.”
Iowa’s decision to promote Jensen after longtime coach Lisa Bluder retired last May was astute. Having been part of Bluder’s coaching staff for thirty years, including twenty-five years at Iowa, that continuity is crucial in a time of transition.
The Hawkeyes also welcomed Lucy Olsen, who ranked third in the nation for scoring last year at Villanova, during the offseason.
However, losing Clark, Martin, and Marshall — a trio that played a total of 468 games and were pivotal to the team’s offense, defense, and leadership — is impossible to compensate for adequately. Iowa wisely chose not to attempt to replicate their contributions. The transfer portal can help fill gaps but can’t replace nearly an entire starting lineup.
Instead, the team has focused on their veteran players, who, even with limited playing time last year, were on the court, while also bringing in a group of highly skilled freshmen. This combination has led to some growing pains — Iowa currently holds a 15-7 overall record and is 5-6 in the Big Ten — but it’s a strategy that promises future rewards.
“They’re definitely a younger group,” Clark noted before her jersey retirement ceremony following Sunday’s game. “The freshmen are particularly thrilling to watch. They sometimes exhibit their inexperience, but that’s part of the learning and growing process.
“I think they deserve more grace than they often receive,” Clark added. “But the program is in a strong position. There’s a promising young class, and a couple of juniors will return next year as strong contributors. Plus, we have another impressive class coming in.”
“So, the program is in a really promising spot.”
The signs of progress are becoming evident.
Iowa endured a five-game losing streak in January, with each loss coming by less than ten points, and two losses being decided by just a single point. However, heading into Wednesday’s matchup against Minnesota, the Hawkeyes have turned things around with a three-game winning streak, including a notable win over JuJu Watkins and USC.
Iowa started strong against USC, denying the Trojans any field goals until the final minute of the first quarter. And even when USC tried to stage a comeback, Iowa held firm, with Olsen contributing nine points during a pivotal 15-7 run that secured the victory, drawing enthusiastic support from Clark.
“It just takes a bit of time,” Olsen stated after scoring 28 points against USC, her best performance thus far at Iowa. “We had to learn to work together, and I feel like everything clicked in our recent practices. We caught a glimpse of this at Washington, and now, I think we’re hitting our stride.”
While Iowa may be facing challenges this season, it is unlikely to remain down for long.
Follow news sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
