The name that surprised Hawkeye fans when ESPN revealed its list of the “most impactful transfers” before the 2025–26 women’s college basketball season wasn’t well-known, but perhaps it ought to have been.
Even though the program lost Caitlin Clark and a number of important players, ESPN’s selection of Iowa’s most significant incoming transfer points to the program’s future focal point. To be honest, the former Villanova guard Lucy Olsen was highlighted by ESPN as Iowa’s most significant transfer addition. The logic? Last season, Olsen led Villanova’s offense and demonstrated her ability to carry a scoring burden by averaging 23.3 points per game.
She is more than just a stopgap; she is a true offensive fulcrum thanks to her ballhandling, mid-range shooting, and fortitude under duress. In terms of program narrative, Iowa’s 2024–25 season followed Clark’s departure, but the Hawkeyes were still strong.
The pressure to reload is real as they embark on a new chapter. There was a lot of excitement because transfers like Emely Rodriguez from UCF and Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright from Georgia Tech were also joining the team.
ESPN’s acknowledgement of Olsen, however, implies that she is anticipated to be given more weight among the newcomers, particularly considering her past performance in major conference play. This is not to imply that the supporting cast is unimportant.
Wright provides depth and versatility in the backcourt, Rodriguez has the ability to score, and Hannah Stuelke and Kylie Feuerbach are still part of Iowa’s veteran core. The leap into “go-to scorer” territory, however, is steep, and many will be watching to see if Olsen can make it in a more scrutinized, spotlight-rich setting.
Personally, I think this choice is audacious without being careless. Iowa is a program that thrives on narrative and expectation. The Hawkeyes will require a player in the post-Clark era who can not only score goals but also command attention, focus defensively, and generate momentum in clutch situations. That’s what Olsen is. She has the ability to alter games if she fires from long range, overwhelms defenses, or makes a clutch basket in a Big Ten matchup.
Think about this: she was more than just a volume shooter during her time at Villanova. She was effective in her usage and showed a talent for creating her own offense, which Iowa sorely lacks when defenses falter on secondary options. ESPN’s acknowledgement of that potential is a clue that they anticipate her to change how defenses guard Iowa in addition to being a member of the rotation.
It won’t be smooth, of course. Particularly in a system that depended so heavily on one star for years, there will be growing pains, chemistry issues, and adjustment time. However, if I were to wager (figuratively) on who would ultimately be the key component of Iowa’s new pieces, Olsen is the one I would do so, and ESPN appears to concur.
The 2025–2026 season will be revealing. Olsen has the potential to not only fill a void but also to redefine Iowa’s identity in this new era if she lives up to the hype. What if she makes a mistake? Yes, that is also a part of the story. In any case, ESPN’s selection guarantees that everyone will be watching her and the Hawkeyes from the very beginning.
