"We haven't had anyone like her for a while": Iowa HC Jan Jensen highlights Lucy Olsen's "unique" abilities ahead of 2024-25 college basketball season

The Iowa Hawkeyes and coach Jan Jensen signed Lucy Olsen from the transfer portal following the departure of Caitlin Clark to the WNBA. The Indiana Fever rookie guard played a huge role for the Hawkeyes, and they needed someone who would match up to her in terms of skills and numbers.

In her junior season with the Villanova Wildcats, Olsen averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals. She was the third-highest scorer in the NCAA Division I after Clark and USC's JuJu Watkins and brings major shooting power to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa coach Jan Jensen commented on the new signee's potential in an interview with Hawkeye Insider, where she said:

"I told her the other day, 'Gosh, I wish I could have coached you for years.' And that just was a genuine (statement). She just is, we would have recruited her. She just is selfless, she's fun, eager, just a really neat kid. She's so unique. We haven't had anyone like her for a while.

"She's more mid-range, definitely pass first and she just has a nice balance about her. But her personality is really golden and I'm just really fortunate that we got her. To start with her experience, her confidence…she's got enough moxie, but enough humility. She balances it."

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Jan Jensen details her vision for the upcoming season

Following the retirement of Lisa Bluder in May, Jan Jensen was promoted as the head coach. She spent 24 years as the assistant coach, taking care of recruitment and developing players.

With her appointment, fans were curious to see what changes she would bring to the program. In an interview from May, Jan Jensen said:

“The same vision that I had working with Lisa will be continuing. You want to do it at a high very level. You want to do it with integrity, never compromising your values, and you want to put a product on the floor that's fun to watch and fun to cheer for and fun to play. That will remain the same.

“Now, how we do it, I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. We've had pretty good success. But I'm going to put my own little stamp on it.”

The Hawkeyes have already begun practice, and Kate Martin dropped by for a visit on Wednesday. She encouraged the players to aim for the championship and give their best in the 2024-25 college basketball season.

What do you think of Lucy Olsen's addition to the roster? Let us know in the comment section below.

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