The Iowa Hawkeyes will enter a transformation when their 2024-25 season begins Wednesday.

Caitlin Clark, the generational who changed the fabric of Iowa, is now in the WNBA, leaving the proverbial door wide open for someone else to walk through.

Enter Lucy Olsen – the senior guard and Pennsylvania native who transferred to Iowa in the offseason after three seasons with the Villanova Wildcats. Olsen seemingly takes over from Clark, stepping into the spotlight to keep the Hawkeyes on the path to title contention.

Will Iowa return to the national championship game with Lucy Olsen leading the team in a post-Caitlin Clark era? That remains to be seen. But now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the player leading the charge.

1. Lucy Olsen chose the Iowa Hawkeyes for the team’s family culture

Former Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder greets Lucy Olsen after practice Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Why would Lucy Olsen choose Iowa as her next destination, knowing she would have so many expectations – fair or unfair – placed on her?

Former coach Lisa Bluder and the Hawkeyes seemed to have fostered a warm and inviting culture. From a quick phone call right after her transfer to a Zoom meeting with her parents, Iowa was all in on Lucy Olsen. This notion was only reinforced when she met the team in person.

“When we arrived on campus for a visit, I was like, ‘Wow, we already feel like family,’” Olsen said. Chad Leistikow from Register of Monks earlier this year. “There was something about the culture they built (that) made it feel like home. That’s what sold me.

2. Lucy Olsen isn’t trying to be Caitlin Clark

Iowa’s Lucy Olsen (33) reacts during a game against Missouri Western on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Stepping up behind Caitlin Clark (and her legacy) can seem intimidating. But Lucy Olsen isn’t trying to replace Clark.

“Caitlin Clark is Caitlin Clark. I’m not going to try to be her. Olsen said. “But they need a leader, and this is the perfect opportunity to try to make something happen.”

To her credit, Olsen holds her own on the field, which is a big part of why she was also heavily pursued by schools like LSU and Maryland when she entered the transfer portal. The senior guard finished third in Division I women’s basketball last season, just behind Clark and JuJu Watkins, averaging an impressive 23.3 points per game.

3. Lucy Olsen brings her own unique game to the Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa’s Lucy Olsen (33) makes a play against Missouri Western on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Lucy Olsen works very well in the mid-range and has a patented stepback fadeaway jumper that should really shine this season. This is his favorite move, triggering it from multiple locations in the arc. She’s also a willing three-point shooter, although she only shot 30 percent from deep last year.

Additionally, Olsen has plenty of basketball experience that should be a good fit for a young Iowa team. In addition to three productive seasons at Vilanova, where she finished her career ranked ninth all-time with 1,504 points, Olsen also played on the international stage. She has been playing since American basketball team for almost two years and won a gold medal in the 2023 FIBA ​​3×3 U23 Nations League Finals.