“I hope what people will remember about this season is what these young women did with probably one of the most difficult rebuilding or reloading jobs,” said coach Jan Jensen after Iowa’s season ended on a frustrating note with a blowout loss to Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. Still, that disappointing finish did little to overshadow what was, by all accounts, an impressive first year in the post-Caitlin Clark era.

After a shaky 2-6 start to Big Ten play, the Hawkeyes found their rhythm, winning 11 of their final 15 games — including a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Murray State. And remember, this was the same Iowa team that lost Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, reliable 3-and-D weapon Gabbie Marshall, and point guard Molly Davis. Oh, and to make things even tougher, Lisa Bluder, the winningest coach in Big Ten women’s basketball history, retired last offseason.

One of the key players behind that late-season turnaround was forward Hannah Stuelke. As one of the most experienced and accomplished players on Iowa’s roster, she’s stepping into a leadership role this year. And even though Caitlin Clark has moved on to the WNBA, her influence on Stuelke still lingers. During an appearance on the Big Ten Network, sports commentator Mike Hall shared that Caitlin once told Hannah to study Draymond Green’s game to elevate her own.

To that, Hannah confirmed with a smile, “Yes, that’s true. 100% true. I think the aggression that he plays with is really key for me. She always wanted me to be really aggressive and play with a lot of passion.” 

She certainly brought the aggression, especially after shifting from power forward to center to meet the team’s needs. At 6’2″, she had the size to make the switch work. Her scoring dipped slightly, from 14.0 points per game in 2023 to 12.7 last season, with star guard Lucy Olsen taking on a bigger offensive role following Caitlin Clark’s departure. But Stuelke made her presence felt in other ways, setting career highs with 7.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Her strong performances earned her a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Stuelke’s impact went far beyond Iowa. After three days of trials, she earned a spot on Team USA for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in Chile. Coming off the bench, she played a key role in helping the team secure the gold medal, averaging 5.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Back in Iowa City with a gold medal around her neck, Stuelke enters the new season already earning preseason All-Big Ten honors.

Coach Jen Jensen has big plans for Stuelke, seeing her as a key piece in the search for Iowa’s next team leader.

Jan Jensen Eyes Caitlin Clark’s Former Teammate to Step Up as Leader

In the first two seasons of Stuelke’s Hawkeyes career, she got a front-row seat to Caitlin Clark’s charisma and leadership as they reached back-to-back Big Dance Finals against all odds. While they didn’t come away with a championship, those campaigns are still remembered as some of the greatest seasons in Iowa history.

Iowa hasn’t needed Stuelke to take the reins as a leader–on or off the court–because until now, there was always someone older ready to fill that role, whether it was Caitlin Clark during her freshman and sophomore years or Lucy Olsen in her junior season. But this year, Coach Jan Jensen is looking for the senior forward to step up and embrace that leadership mantle.

Jensen hopes to bank on the experience Stuelke gained during the AmeriCup.“What I’m hoping is that type of experience gave her something mentally and internally that can lead a relatively young and inexperienced group. We had new last year, but we had some key people that had been here,” she said.

It will be fascinating to see how Iowa shapes up this season as they continue the search for a Caitlin Clark heir. With Stuelke stepping into a leadership role, the big question is: Can she guide Iowa to the dream season fans have been waiting for? Only time will tell!