Key Highlights

• Lucy Olsen steps in as the new point guard for Iowa Hawkeyes, replacing Caitlin Clark.
• Olsen, a standout player from Villanova, is quickly integrating with her new team.
• Lisa Bluder’s retirement and Jan Jensen’s succession have not affected the team’s culture.
• Olsen’s unique style and personality bring a fresh dynamic to the Hawkeyes.

(NicePlay Sports) – In the practice facility where Caitlin Clark’s famous intensity was on display nearly every day for four years, Lucy Olsen runs through the same drills with the same amount of effort while showcasing a little more joy and a much larger smile. It’s a slight difference in optics between Clark, who currently leads the WNBA in assists as a rookie, and Olsen, who is replacing her world-renowned predecessor as Iowa’s point guard after three stellar seasons at Villanova. But there’s little difference in competitive fire, which Olsen’s smile conceals and her new teammates embrace every time she takes the court. “You can tell she just loves basketball,” said senior guard Sydney Affolter, one of two returning starters from the Hawkeyes’ national runner-up squad. “She loves to be here. She loves getting after it. But she’s so hard-working. In scrimmage, she’ll push you and not take it easy on anyone. She’s definitely lighthearted, but she can be mean on the floor.” Olsen, who stands 5 foot 10, finished third in Division I in scoring last season, her 23.3 points per game trailing only Clark (31.6) and USC’s JuJu Watkins (27.1). For the second consecutive season, Olsen will be following up the nation’s leading scorer; her former Wildcats teammate Maddy Siegrist topped the charts in 2022-23. Perhaps Olsen’s vivacious personality shielded her from outside pressure at Villanova. At Iowa, which sold out every home game for Clark’s record-breaking performances, the expectations will dwarf what she faced in Philadelphia. The prospect of following someone as popular or accomplished as Clark could push many possible replacements away from a place like Iowa. Yet Olsen appears unaffected by stepping in for the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and the back-to-back consensus national player of the year. In fact, Olsen has put any whiff of a comparison out of the discussion. It’s not relevant to her. “I’m not going to be a Caitlin Clark,” Olsen said. “There’s not going to be another Caitlin Clark. She’s amazing, and she’s done such great things here. I think she’s definitely paved the way to how hard you should work, what expectations there are and what type of program this is. I think it’s more just pressure internally of, all right, do the best you can and if you do that, then there’s nothing else you can give.” Assistant coach Abby Emmert Stamp felt pressure when she picked up Olsen and her parents for their official visit on April 16, one day after the WNBA Draft. Through preliminary video conversations with Olsen and her family, the connection seemed obvious. Olsen’s floor game fit perfectly with what Iowa wants from a point guard, and Stamp believed she was the best player available nationally.

The Perfect Fit for Iowa Hawkeyes

Lucy Olsen’s transition to Iowa has been seamless, meshing her talents with the Hawkeyes’ renowned offensive strategy that led the nation with 91 points per game last season. Olsen watched Iowa throughout the season and was captivated by their high-octane offense. From the moment she entered the transfer portal, Iowa was quick to make their move. Lucy’s visit to Iowa was enough to convince her of the program’s dedication. The commitment of former coach Lisa Bluder and current head coach Jan Jensen, who left New York at 4 a.m. to join the visit, was a testament to the program’s seriousness. The transition in coaching staff, with Jensen taking over from Bluder, did not shake Olsen’s decision. Iowa’s culture remained intact, and every player and prospect stayed committed. “I felt very wanted, and I think that’s something you need to have from a program,” Olsen said. “I didn’t want to go somewhere where they just wanted me for a year. They seemed like they genuinely wanted me and liked me as a person.” Her new teammates have welcomed her warmly, and her roommate Taylor McCabe has shown her around Iowa City, helping her acclimate quickly. The camaraderie off the court is translating into solid on-court chemistry, essential for Iowa’s motion offense. Olsen’s unique style, a blend of joy and intensity, adds a fresh dynamic to the team. Her cheerful demeanor and relentless work ethic have already made her a favorite among her teammates.

Adapting to the Iowa System

Lucy Olsen’s basketball skills are a perfect fit for Iowa’s style of play, but her adaptation involves more than just fitting into an offensive system. Olsen was a pass-first point guard at Villanova, excelling in the midrange game, a skill not seen at Iowa since Kathleen Doyle in 2020. However, to fit into Iowa’s system, she’s been working on improving her three-point shooting. “She just didn’t have a lot of attempts at it,” said assistant coach Abby Stamp. “A lot of what she was doing at Villanova, she was creating her own shot. So early on we worked on using screens, coming off screens with pace, always having your hands and feet ready and just getting her to think a little bit more shot-first. I think for her, more than anything, is just that mindset of the catch-and-shoot 3 a little bit more within our offense.” The expectations at Iowa are high, but Olsen’s integration has been aided by the supportive coaching staff and the welcoming culture. Her approach is not to mimic Clark but to bring her own strengths to the team. This has been evident in practice, where Olsen’s competitive nature and work ethic have shone through. Her ability to drive the offense and create scoring opportunities, combined with her cheerful personality, makes her a unique and valuable asset to the Hawkeyes. “She’s going to be herself,” Affolter said. “She’s not trying to be anyone she’s not, so that’s exciting to see. We don’t expect her to do what Caitlin did, and we don’t want her to do what Caitlin did. This is obviously a new team and a new era. She’s been great, and she’s been killing it.”

Building Team Chemistry

One of the key factors in Olsen’s swift integration into the Hawkeyes is the strong team chemistry she has helped foster. From workouts to social outings in Iowa City, Olsen has quickly bonded with her teammates, which is crucial for a team looking to build on past successes. Olsen’s bubbly personality has made her a natural fit in the team’s culture. She lives with fellow guard Taylor McCabe, and their shared experiences have helped build a strong friendship. Their time spent exploring Iowa City and bonding over shared interests, like watching