3 biggest expectations from Iowa transfer Lucy Olsen in 2024-2025 season
Even though under a different coach, Lucy Olsen will be stepping into the massive hole left behind by Caitlin Clark for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2024-25 season. The Villanova Wildcats transfer was the third-best scorer last season – behind Clark and Juju Watkins – and has the potential to keep Iowa soaring in the contending troposphere:
"I'm not going to be a Caitlin Clark. There's not going to be another Caitlin Clark," Olsen said earlier this summer.
The 'Caitlin Clark Impact’ was truly one-of-a-kind, and Olsen realizes that, as does new coach Jan Jensen. Nevertheless, fans will expect the 5-foot-10 guard to step into the shoes of the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer.
Here's a look at three of the biggest expectations from Lucy Olsen in the 2024-25 season.
3 biggest expectations from Lucy Olsen in 2024-2025 season
#1. Scoring
The most straightforward of them all, Olsen will be expected to churn out more than 20 to 25 points per game throughout the season. Clark was renowned for her long-range shots but had enough in her bag to leverage it for scoring opportunities in the paint or from the mid-range.
Lucy Olsen of course brings her own unique skill set to the table. She has arguably one of the best mid-range shots in the circuit. Olsen made 43.8% of her shots behind a usage rate similar to Clark’s 37.84%. Moreover, she attempted 20.3 field goals per game, close to Clark’s 22.7.
However, more than half of Caitlin Clark’s shots came from the arc (13.6) while the former Wildcat launched only 5.3 3s per game. With that, Olsen will be expected to cultivate a dependable 3-point shot in the 2024-25 season. She shot 29.4% from the arc last season on 187 attempts.
#2. Leadership and Playmaking
Olsen also has the tools to be a leader. On the court, it translates through her efficiency in being a pass-first point guard for Villanova. Off the court, it comes through her unaffected demeanor by the inevitable comparisons with Caitlin Clark. Olsen does not let the outside noise get to her.
Now, as she fits into Iowa’s read-and-react offense, Lucy Olsen will have a lot of split-second decisions to make. In case Jan Jensen chooses to utilize her as much as Villanova, Olsen will also have the responsibility to soften the defense by finding backdoor dimes, lobbing to the post or pitching it to the corner every time the defense overplays a player.
#3. Competitiveness and showmanship
Lucy Olsen has already earned the trust of her teammates, who will look to her for inspiration during crunch-time situations. Olsen’s ability to live up to these moments could help the Hawkeyes post a deep postseason run in the 2025 NCAA championship.
All of Iowa’s 2023-24 home games, alongside most of the road ones, saw full attendances. Moreover, Clark’s NCAA Finals stint against the South Carolina Gamecocks drew more viewership than the UConn men’s team's back-to-back title game against the Purdue Boilermakers.
While Lucy Olsen is not expected to replicate Caitlin Clark’s knack for packing arenas, her performances could prove monumental in retaining the huge crowds that the Hawkeyes’ new-found success will hope to draw in regularly.
How do you think Lucy Olsen and the Iowa Hawkeyes will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.