It is the dawn of a new season for the Iowa Hawkeyes—with an emphasis on new.
They are chartering a new course after two years of being in the glare of the Caitlin Clark-fueled national spotlight, which culminated in back-to-back NCAA national championship game appearances. The Hawkeyes became a phenomenon, drawing sold-out crowds and huge television ratings.
Since their loss to South Carolina in the 2024 title game, the core of the team has left. Lisa Bluder retired after 24 years as head coach. Clark was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and was named Rookie of the Year. Kate Martin was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces. Gabby Marshall headed to grad school, as did Molly Davis.
This year, the Hawkeyes are entering the season unranked. They have a few familiar faces returning, as well as burgeoning talent on the horizon. And contrary to popular expectations, they’ve already sold out every home game for the second-consecutive season.
At the top, former assistant Jan Jensen steps in as the head…
