Four Former Iowa Stars Make WNBA Rosters as New Season Brings Fresh Storylines and Big Expectations
The wait is finally over for women’s basketball fans. After months of offseason uncertainty, tense labor negotiations, roster battles, and preseason competition, the WNBA regular season is set to tip off this weekend and once again, former Iowa Hawkeyes players will have a major presence across the league.
For Iowa fans, the 2026 WNBA season offers something special: familiar faces, redemption stories, expansion-team drama, and rising stars fighting to establish themselves on basketball’s biggest stage.
When final roster cuts were announced Wednesday, four former Iowa women’s basketball players officially secured spots on WNBA opening-day rosters. That number briefly appeared to be five, but former Hawkeye standout Kate Martin was waived Thursday morning by the Golden State Valkyries in a move that surprised many around the league.
Still, four Hawkeyes remain ready to represent Iowa basketball at the professional level and each enters the season with a compelling storyline that could shape the months ahead.
From Caitlin Clark’s highly anticipated comeback season to Megan Gustafson joining a brand-new franchise and Lucy Olsen earning her opportunity after grinding overseas, Iowa fans will have no shortage of reasons to tune in.
Here’s a full breakdown of every former Hawkeye on a WNBA roster entering the 2026 season.
Caitlin Clark Returns With Something to Prove for Indiana Fever
There’s no question who remains the biggest draw among former Iowa stars.
Caitlin Clark enters the 2026 WNBA season carrying enormous expectations once again after an injury-shortened sophomore campaign left fans wanting more.
Clark, who won the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award after transforming the league’s popularity with her deep shooting range and elite playmaking, was limited to only 13 games last season because of injury setbacks. The missed time frustrated Fever fans and temporarily slowed the momentum surrounding one of basketball’s most electrifying players.
But heading into this season, Clark appears healthy, confident, and fully prepared for a massive bounce-back year.
The Indiana Fever open their season Saturday, May 9, against the Dallas Wings in a nationally televised matchup airing on ABC at noon CST. It’s already one of the most anticipated games of opening weekend.
Clark’s impact on the WNBA extends far beyond points and assists. Since entering the league, ticket sales, television ratings, and arena attendance have exploded whenever she plays. Indiana quickly became must-watch basketball, and league executives are hoping a healthy Clark can help sustain that momentum throughout 2026.
During her historic college career at University of Iowa, Clark shattered NCAA scoring records and elevated Iowa women’s basketball into a national powerhouse. Her transition to the WNBA brought intense pressure, but she embraced it immediately.
Now, after an offseason focused heavily on recovery and conditioning, Clark enters the year with renewed energy.
And if preseason performances were any indication, defenders may be in trouble.
The Fever believe they have a legitimate playoff contender built around Clark’s scoring ability and court vision. More importantly, Clark looks motivated by last season’s frustrations. Players often take major leaps after adversity, and league insiders expect Clark to remind everyone exactly why she became one of the most recognizable athletes in sports.
For Iowa fans, Saturday’s opener feels less like the start of another season and more like the beginning of Clark’s next chapter.
Megan Gustafson Begins New Journey With Expansion Franchise
While Clark commands headlines, veteran Megan Gustafson continues quietly building one of the most respected professional careers among former Hawkeyes.
Now entering another WNBA season, Gustafson finds herself in unfamiliar territory helping launch one of the league’s newest franchises.
The veteran center is officially part of the Portland Fire, one of two expansion teams entering the WNBA this season. Portland opens its inaugural campaign Saturday night against the Chicago Sky at 8 p.m. CST on NBA TV.
For Gustafson, the opportunity represents both a fresh start and a leadership role.
She’s now the longest-tenured former Hawkeye currently active in the WNBA, and her experience could prove invaluable for a franchise trying to establish an identity from day one.
Gustafson’s basketball journey has been built on persistence. After dominating college basketball at Iowa and winning the 2019 National Player of the Year award, she faced the difficult reality many post players encounter in the professional game fighting for roster spots and consistent minutes.
Instead of fading away, Gustafson reinvented herself.
She developed her perimeter skills, improved defensively, and continued playing internationally during WNBA offseasons to sharpen her game. That determination kept her career alive and earned respect throughout professional basketball circles.
Now she becomes part of history as Portland begins its first season in the league.
Expansion teams rarely contend immediately, but they often become fan favorites because of the emotional connection surrounding a franchise’s birth. Gustafson’s presence gives Portland a proven veteran capable of stabilizing a young roster.
And for Iowa supporters, seeing another Hawkeye veteran continue thriving professionally remains a source of pride.
Lucy Olsen Completes Remarkable Rise After Overseas Success
Perhaps the most inspiring Iowa storyline belongs to Lucy Olsen.
Just days ago, her professional future remained uncertain.
Now, she’s officially on a WNBA roster.
Olsen earned one of the final spots on the Washington Mystics after impressing coaches throughout training camp and preseason action. Her journey to this moment wasn’t easy.
Following her collegiate career, Olsen spent the offseason playing professionally in Australia, using the opportunity to improve her skill set and adapt to the physical demands of professional basketball. That overseas experience appears to have paid off in a major way.
Washington clearly saw enough growth and potential to keep her on the regular-season roster when final cuts were announced Wednesday.
The Mystics begin their season Friday, May 8, against the Toronto Tempo at 6:30 p.m. CST in a game airing on ION.
For Olsen, simply making the roster represents a huge accomplishment.
WNBA roster spots remain among the hardest jobs to secure in professional sports. The league’s limited number of teams means talented players are cut every season despite strong performances. That reality makes Olsen’s breakthrough even more impressive.
Her ability to adapt overseas likely gave her an edge. Many young players return from international leagues more confident, more polished, and mentally tougher after facing experienced competition abroad.
Now comes the next challenge proving she belongs.
Olsen’s versatility and scoring instincts could earn her meaningful minutes if she continues developing. And if she makes an early impact, she could quickly become another Iowa success story at the professional level.
Kate Martin’s Release Shocks Iowa Fans
While four former Hawkeyes survived final cuts, the biggest surprise came Thursday morning when Kate Martin was waived by the Golden State Valkyries.
The move stunned many Iowa fans who expected Martin to secure a roster spot after her strong reputation as a reliable defender, leader, and high-IQ player.
Martin became a fan favorite during Iowa’s historic NCAA tournament runs alongside Clark, known for doing the little things that helped the Hawkeyes win games. Her toughness and versatility made her valuable throughout her college career.
But the harsh reality of WNBA roster limits struck again.
With teams forced to reduce rosters before opening weekend, difficult decisions became unavoidable across the league. Martin now enters an uncertain period as she searches for her next professional opportunity.
Still, few around basketball believe this marks the end of her journey.
Players with Martin’s toughness, leadership, and professionalism often find another path back into the league, whether through hardship contracts, overseas development, or future training camp invitations.
And if Iowa basketball history has shown anything, it’s that former Hawkeyes rarely stay down for long.
Iowa’s WNBA Pipeline Continues to Grow
The presence of four former Iowa players on WNBA opening-day rosters says a lot about the evolution of the Hawkeyes program.
Not long ago, Iowa producing multiple professional players simultaneously would have felt unusual. Now, it’s becoming expected.
The success of Clark, Gustafson, Olsen, and Martin reflects how Iowa women’s basketball has transformed into a national destination capable of developing professional-level talent.
That momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
With recruiting momentum surging and national exposure higher than ever, the Hawkeyes continue building a program that consistently sends talent to the next level.
And as the 2026 WNBA season begins, Iowa fans once again have plenty of reasons to keep watching.
