Iowa Women’s Basketball and Caitlin Clark

Iowa women’s basketball was hit by an unprecedented purple tide this season, punishing every defensive breakdown and forcing Caitlin Clark to lead a miraculous comeback from behind.

With Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock having moved on, look for Hannah Stuelke (6-2 rising sophomore) and Addison O’Grady (6-5 rising junior) to receive more floor time next season. Both players possess four-spot capabilities but lack three-point shooting ability.

Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark had many options available to her regarding basketball talent, but made the smart decision of remaining in Iowa at the college level and contributing to its first Final Four appearance since 1990. At Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines she earned two Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year honors before going on to represent Team USA at both FIBA Americas and World Cup Tournaments, winning gold both times!

Iowa freshman season 2020-21 saw her continue her successful performance from Dowling. She earned Big Ten First Team All-Conference honors and Second Team All-America recognition while setting school records in points, total assists, 3-pointers made and playmaking ability – becoming the first woman ever in NCAA Division I history to lead both in points and assists.

As a sophomore, Clark saw her numbers improve and received her first Big Ten Conference Player of the Year award. She earned consensus All-American status and became the first student-athlete ever to claim back-to-back Dawn Staley Awards; leading the nation in scoring, total assists, 3-pointers made and ranking second for rebound per game per game played.

Clark guided Iowa to a 20-10 record and No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, earning herself an Elite Eight match against Louisville where she scored 41 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to become one of only three women ever to record an NCAA women’s tournament 40-point triple double performance.

Although she’s an All-American and one of the top players in the nation, Clark remains modest and exhibits true class in her demeanor. A natural leader, she never hesitates to voice her opinions – always seeking ways to better herself as part of a team effort.

Clark has been instrumental in leading Iowa women’s basketball to its current level this season. Without her leadership and tenacity on the court, they would likely not be where they are today. Her fans in Iowa City and across the nation love her for her perseverance on court – making her one of their favorites as a result!

Addison O’Grady

The Hawkeyes won’t have Monika Czinano or McKenna Warnock next season, yet they still plan to be an impactful force nationally thanks to Caitlin Clark. She is an unstoppable force; an absolute can’t-miss player who commands attention with her skillset and never shying away from taking trash talkers on. Fans love Caitlin Clark while opposing teams have no shortage of praise for what makes them fear playing against her as her unique skill set makes opponents shudder in fear and horror at what she can bring against them!

One year ago, she found herself thrust into the center role when Iowa senior Sharon Goodman tore her ACL, quickly becoming a trusted contributor and beginning to establish an NBA-level profile under associate coach Jan Jensen’s tutelage. Although her minutes dropped this season, but efficiency remained consistent – an ideal scenario for an efficient blue-collar frontcourt player capable of scoring, rebounding, and defense alike.

Addison O’Grady has the potential to be a key cog in Iowa’s 2017-18 squad. She is an aggressive forward from Aurora, Colorado – not afraid of going directly against larger players – who showed her scoring prowess as well as post defense during Iowa’s national semifinal win over South Carolina (four points and three blocks in 18 minutes of floor time) as well as her more assertive approach during LSU championship game play – both indicators that this young woman may become even stronger with age and experience.

O’Grady and Martin give the Hawkeyes two reliable three-point shooters and defenders who will work alongside Clark, helping offset two key graduation losses. Hannah Stuelke (6-2 rising sophomore) and Addison O’Grady (6-5 rising junior) should play bigger roles during their second seasons at Iowa; these duos should make 2023 a strong contender for national glory!

Katie Martin

Iowa women’s basketball team now stands a chance at reaching its first national title game since 1993, as Iowa star guard Caitlin Clark scored 41 points against South Carolina to end its 42-game win streak and put Iowa one victory away from an NCAA title game for the first time ever.

The game was an emotional one for all involved, but especially so for Iowa Hawkeye players and fans. There was an undeniable sense of pride that spread through the crowd and across Iowa State University’s Corridor region; random strangers stopped on the street wanting to shake hands with Hawkeye fans; tears flowed freely – it truly captured America’s spirit!

There was every reason to believe Iowa could continue their amazing run of success through the rest of the season, but unfortunately for their supporters it did not. Angel Reese and LSU proved too powerful an opponent despite an amazing effort by Iowa.

Watching an entire season come to a close was heartbreaking, yet exciting at the same time. Looking ahead, 2023-24 could prove even more promising as Lisa Bluder leads an talented roster and coach into potential championship contention.

Clark will return for another season alongside Addison O’Grady and Katie Martin. It will be fascinating to observe how the team looks without McKenna Warnock – an integral member who could play down low, rebound, and create three-point opportunities – who was an invaluable presence on defense and offense alike. Players like Czinano or Marshall might help fill her shoes, although replacing all the production that Warnock provided could prove challenging.

Gabby Marshall

Last year, Iowa took America by storm with their dramatic run to the national championship game. Caitlin Clark and her teammates charmed fans from Iowa City all the way to Seattle before eventually landing Dallas as part of an amazing journey – becoming unstoppable ever since!

Iowa women’s basketball 2024 recruiting class is quickly shaping up to be an impressive one. Iowa expects to bring in five-star recruit Hannah Stuelke of Memphis and Kennise Johnson Etienne of Florida as key contributors, both who could potentially play key roles for next season’s squad.

Both players hail from elite high schools, with Stuelke boasting a 3.9 GPA and 4.38 ACT score. She’s noted for being “very good player who can shoot,” and being considered “highly-competitive, talented guard who can play anywhere.”

This pair of recruits could give Iowa an enormous edge next season. Their addition could make the roster deep enough to challenge for another championship title; and should that occur, watching Carver-Hawkeye Arena come alive will surely be exciting!

College basketball has never been so thrilling and this year could only get more thrilling! Iowa Hawkeyes look poised to remain a forceful contender in future seasons with an excellent core returning, including national player of the year Caitlin Clark.

Iowa women’s basketball has made it all the way back into the Final Four for the first time in 30 years! Tonight they face the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in tonight’s semifinal. Dargan Southard from Des Moines Register covered Iowa women’s basketball over the last several weeks and discussed what needs to happen for Iowa to advance and win tonight. We spoke with Dargan Southard regarding what has made their run possible as well as discussing team bonding’s vital role on reaching this incredible feat of reaching final four status.