Iowa is fresh off the greatest season in program history. The Hawkeyes marched all the way to the 2023 NCAA Tournament national championship game versus LSU.
A magical run for Iowa came up one game short, but the Hawkeyes reached the program’s first national title game and its second all-time Final Four. One half of The Law Firm, star big Monika Czinano, is out of eligibility and off to the WNBA.
Meanwhile, fellow starter McKenna Warnock elected against using an extra COVID season. That means the Hawkeyes are going to look different in 2023-24 and replacing two of their key cogs.
Naturally, it all starts with the return of National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark. Sharpshooting guards and longtime starters Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall are both back as well.
Even with the departures of Czinano and Warnock, that’s a great place to start. Still, Iowa will be counting upon the emergence of Hannah Stuelke and Addison O’Grady in order to try to reach the heights of last season.
Molly Davis, Taylor McCabe, Sydney Affolter and Kylie Feuerbach are names to watch during the 2023-24 season as well.
With all of that returning, fans have still been wondering if there isn’t a transfer portal name or two that they should be keeping an eye on. After all, a player the caliber of Clark with a strong supporting cast and an opportunity to track down a national championship only comes along so often.
Of course, the big news earlier this week was forward Shateah Wetering entering the NCAA transfer portal. That was a notable happening because it meant that Iowa suddenly had one of its 15 scholarships open. Previously, all 15 of the Hawkeyes’ scholarships had been accounted for.
There’s all sorts of talent right now in the transfer portal and some interesting debates and discussions that can be had on which player Iowa should add if it hypothetically had its pick.
It seems like the Hawkeye coaching staff has one name in particular in mind. ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported that the Hawkeyes are one of the schools that has reached out and been in contact with DePaul transfer Aneesah Morrow.
LSU, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Iowa, Maryland, USC & Ole Miss are among the 33 schools who've contacted Aneesah Morrow as she considers her next college destination, she tells ESPN.
The former DePaul star (23.8 PPG) has been a top scorer in the country the past two seasons
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) April 12, 2023
Per Philippou, Iowa is one of 33 schools that has contacted Morrow. That list includes national champion LSU, fellow Final Four participant South Carolina, Notre Dame, Maryland and USC.
The 6-foot-1 forward was a unanimous All-Big East selection and was named a third-team All-American by the US Basketball Writers Association and the Associated Press.
Morrow averaged 25.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season. She registered 25 double-doubles last season. Morrow shot 42.5% from the floor and 25.4% from 3-point distance.
There’s been all sorts of reaction to Morrow jumping into the portal. Here’s some of the national reaction since her April 5 announcement.