The encore act for Hawkeye women’s basketball will be anxiously anticipated in Iowa City.
After the heights that Caitlin Clark lifted Iowa up to, buzz and interest surrounding the program remains high entering the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season.
A pair of Iowa games were featured among On3’s top 10 Big Ten dates in the 2024-25 season.
Iowa’s annual Cy-Hawk date versus Iowa State on Wednesday, Dec. 11 was listed as the No. 5 ranked game involving a Big Ten squad per On3’s Talia Goodman.
Hawkeyes vs. Cyclones is a rivalry matchup that is sure to be entertaining even without Caitlin Clark. Iowa State has only won one of the last eight matchups, but they’ve got the better roster this time around. Can the Iowa Hawkeyes win this one post-Clark? – Goodman, On3.
Iowa State brings back one of the nation’s best bigs in sophomore center Audi Crooks. The 6-foot-3 center averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in leading the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament’s second round. The Cyclones also return double-figure scorer Addy Brown, a sophomore forward that averaged 13.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Iowa’s home date versus UCLA was ranked as the No. 10 Big Ten date on the slate by Goodman.
If Iowa can retain its dedicated fanbase from years past, playing the Hawkeyes at their place is no easy task. The Bruins, being on the West Coast, will have to do a lot of traveling. This is a game that may trip them up on the road if Lucy Olsen’s talents translate to the Big Ten as expected. – Goodman, On3.
UCLA was ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 back in May. The Bruins feature junior center Lauren Betts and junior guard Kiki Rice. Betts averaged 14.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, while Rice averaged 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
The Bruins added graduate guard Charlisse Leger-Walker from Washington State and junior guard Timea Gardiner from Oregon State. Leger-Walker led Washington State in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. She also added 6.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Gardiner averaged 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Obviously, it will be a new-look Hawkeye bunch given that Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall have moved on. Iowa should still be plenty good, though.
Thanks to the addition of the nation’s No. 3 scorer from a season ago in Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen, Iowa reloaded its backcourt in a hurry. Olsen will join a backcourt group that also features Sydney Affolter, Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe.
The Hawkeyes also signed freshman guards Taylor Stremlow, Aaliyah Guyton, Teagan Mallegni and Callie Levin.
Inside, Iowa returns junior forward Hannah Stuelke and senior center Addison O’Grady. Freshman center Ava Heiden could factor into the rotation quickly as well.
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