The 2024 preseason AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll dropped like a bombshell on Tuesday. South Carolina fans probably threw a party when they saw the Gamecocks sitting smugly at the top (again), with UConn and USC’s basketball royalty Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins hot on their heels. But here’s the real kicker: the Iowa Hawkeyes — yes, the team that made last year’s national championship game — didn’t even crack the Top 25.
Talk about the fall from grace.
After an 87-75 beatdown at the hands of South Carolina in the finals, Iowa’s offseason has been a little, shall we say, eventful. Caitlin Clark, the superstar whose three-point shooting had fans practically fainting in the stands, has left the building. Oh, and to make matters even more intense, Lisa Bluder — the legendary coach who had been with the Hawkeyes longer than most players have been alive — decided to retire. As if losing Clark wasn’t enough of a gut punch, they handed the reins to Jan Jensen, the former assistant now tasked with cleaning up the wreckage.
And that’s not even the end of the exodus. Starters Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and Molly Davis have all packed their bags and hit the road. It’s like a basketball version of “The Great Migration,” only without the hope of a warm welcome at the other end.
But hold on. There’s a glimmer of optimism for Hawkeye fans who are probably clutching their jerseys in disbelief right now. Iowa made a splash in the transfer portal by snagging Lucy Olsen, the former Villanova guard who finished third in NCAA scoring last season. Olsen comes in as a bona fide scorer with a stat line that’ll make any coach smile: 23.3 points per game, plus a side order of rebounds, assists, and steals. She’s no Caitlin Clark, but hey, who is?
Her shooting percentages? Let’s say they’re decent enough to keep Iowa from scoring 50 points and calling it a night. Sure, her three-point shooting at 29.4% could use some work, but we’ll let that slide for now. At least she shoots over 80% from the free-throw line, so fans won’t have to hold their breath every time she steps up.
And here’s the kicker: despite missing out on the Top 25, Iowa managed to grab the most votes of any team on the outside looking in. It’s like they’re knocking at the door, but no one’s home to let them in.
So, there you have it. The Iowa Hawkeyes — a team that, just a few months ago, had the nation buzzing — now find themselves in full rebuild mode. Can Lucy Olsen’s arrival and Jan Jensen’s new leadership keep them competitive? Or will Iowa fade into the middle-of-the-pack wilderness? Stay tuned, because this season might just surprise us all.
And if it doesn’t, well… there’s always next year, right?
Full 2024 Preseason AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll
- South Carolina (745 points, 27 first-place votes)
- UConn (708 points, 2 first-place votes)
- USC (697 points, 1 first-place vote)
- Texas
- UCLA
- Notre Dame
- LSU
- Iowa State
- NC State
- Oklahoma
… (and all the other schools Iowa is probably bitterly side-eyeing right now).
Don’t worry, Hawkeye fans, there’s still hope — it just might not be in the form of a Top 25 ranking this time.