Iowa was bound to regress without Caitlin Clark, but this much?

But Iowa? Just four wins through 10 games in conference play? After reaching the national championship game two years in a row?

OK, let’s take a step back. Head coach Jan Jensen had arguably one of the most difficult tasks ahead of her entering the 2024-25 season. She had to replace Caitlin Clark, who among her many accolades was the highest scorer in Division I basketball history, as well as veterans Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin and Molly Davis. Senior guard Sydney Affolter was sidelined in the preseason after having a surgical scope of her knee. Jensen was also stepping into her first head coaching job in a conference that added four new teams, including two that have been ranked in the top 10 nationally all season (UCLA and USC).

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In other words, Iowa’s regression without Clark and key role players while playing under a new head coach in an even more challenging conference shouldn’t come as a massive surprise. But is Iowa really only two games better than a Wisconsin team that, aside from a recent win over Michigan, has put forth another disappointing season? Are the Hawkeyes really only three games better than a Rutgers team that’s dealt with on-court struggles and off-court drama?

Perhaps that’s the wrong way to look at it.

“It’s going to be a little bit of rebuilding,” Jensen told reporters in October at Big Ten media day. “I can’t put the 2-3 zone in as fast as we did last year or the year before or the year before that, so it just takes a little bit of time to rebuild with that. So then when you take someone out like Syd, who is leading like Kate did, that’s a difference, and it’s unfortunate. But you can’t do our jobs and not anticipate that sometimes you’re going to have hiccups like that.”

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Iowa’s still a strong program. When healthy, Hannah Stuelke is one of the best post players in the country. Lucy Olsen, a Villanova transfer, can be a high-level scorer, and Addison O’Grady‘s taken a massive leap in her senior season. But that trio hasn’t been enough.

Contrary to the past two seasons, when the Hawkeyes had a level of continuity in their starting five almost unheard of in modern-day college basketball, this year’s team has suffered from inconsistent play. There have been bright spots among some of the freshmen:

• Aaliyah Guyton put up 15 points against Northwestern on Tuesday and 14 against Nebraska on Jan. 16
• Teagan Mallegni had 7 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes against Washington on Jan. 22
• Ava Heiden has secured at least five rebounds in each of her last three games
• Taylor Stremlow filled up the stat sheet with 7 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals against Indiana on Jan. 12

But those high-level performances have come sporadically, forcing Iowa to rely too heavily on Stuelke, Olsen and O’Grady. It hasn’t helped that, while Affolter’s rebound and assist numbers are up compared to last year, her scoring and shooting percentage are down.

As the Hawkeyes look toward the home stretch of the season, Jensen’s framing of a rebuild provides good perspective. The first part of the season had its bumps for sure, but this team could still go on a run and make the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes have won back-to-back games, over Washington and Northwestern, after an ugly 50-49 loss to Oregon on Sunday. Perhaps they’re ready to turn the corner.

Iowa has upcoming games against No. 1 UCLA; No. 4 USC; No. 8 Ohio State; and previously ranked Minnesota, Nebraska and Michigan. A few wins over that stretch could turn what’s currently a bit of a disappointing season into one that demonstrates the value of perseverance and patience.

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