Lucy Olsen to Iowa was among ESPN’s top-five transfer portal moves.
Caitlin Clark’s departure to the WNBA as the Indiana Fever’s first-round draft pick created a crater-sized hole in the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball roster.
Iowa didn’t panic, however. They reloaded with top talent. Lucy Olsen, a former Villanova guard and the NCAA’s third-leading scorer last season, entered the transfer portal and quickly found a new home in Iowa City.
5. Lucy Olsen (5-9, G, Jr., Villanova Wildcats)
Committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes
With little hope of replacing Caitlin Clark’s effect, the Hawkeyes needed someone to take on some of her workload. In Olsen, they discovered the best possible substitute using the gateway. Only Clark and JuJu Watkins scored more points per game this season than Olsen.
Olsen blossomed as the Wildcats’ new go-to player after Maddy Siegrist left, increasing her scoring average from 12.4 to 23.2 points per game and earning Big East Most Improved Player honours. She also led the conference in minutes played and started all 105 of Villanova’s games in the previous three seasons. – Charlie Creme, ESPN.
Olsen brings quick experience and scoring ability to the Hawkeyes’ offence. Olsen shot a career-best 43.8% from the field last season and improved her free throw percentage to 80.7%, another career high.
Lucy Olsen hopes to be in the starting lineup next season. Olsen and the rest of the team understand she does not need to strive to fill Caitlin Clark’s shoes. Olsen, with the experience of forward Hannah Stuelke and guard Sydney Affolter beside her, can be a pure scorer from the guard position, a move that will elevate Iowa to greatness.
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