New Iowa women’s basketball era on display at Carver

IOWA CITY — They’re gone. They’re really, truly gone.

Kate Martin. Gabbie Marshall. Lisa Bluder.

And You-Know-Who Else.

“Gabbie just left for North Carolina. We said our good-byes Tuesday night,” Jada Gyamfi said during an open-to-the-media Iowa women’s basketball practice Thursday morning.

“Gabbie, Kate, Caitlin (Clark) ... they were my go-to people. It’s time for me to grow up a little bit.”

It’s time for everyone to turn the page.

The Hawkeyes’ joy ride to back-to-back NCAA tournament championship games, that’s over. Clark and Martin are in the WNBA. Bluder has retired.

What’s next? Nobody knows. Thursday was the first glimpse into a fresh new future.

“I love this group,” Coach Jan Jensen said. “I’m so blessed, with the six newcomers ... I couldn’t ask for a better group. They have so much energy, a great team-first mentality.”

“You can’t have a generational player like Caitlin Clark, a player like Kate Martin and go into the next year thinking it’s business as usual. I believe the fan base will understand that.”

Senior Sydney Affolter and junior Hannah Stuelke provide the veteran nucleus. Joining them are players like Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe, looking to vault from role players to something more.

Then there’s Lucy Olsen, the transfer from Villanova, and a posse of five freshmen.

The new crew has provided the veterans some “wow moments.”

“Lucy is amazing,” Feuerbach said. “She’s fast, she’s explosive. She can score from anywhere on the floor. She is the perfect fit for us.”

“Ava (Heiden) had a one-hand tip at the rim. Taylor (Stremlow) had an amazing behind-the-back pass. Lucy had an insane pull-up shot. Teagan (Mallegni) can shoot the lights out.”

A 6-foot-4 post from Oregon, Heiden was close to automatic during Thursday drills, stepping out to 12-15 feet.

Outside shooting has been a staple at Iowa through the last quarter-century. Nearly 80 percent of the Hawkeyes’ 3-pointers in 2023-24 came from players no longer on the roster.

McCabe (35 of 76 last season, .476) is a sniper. Affolter (24 of 58, .414) is capable.

Other than that ... ?

“Mallegni is quite effective,” Jensen said. “She’s a nice, big guard with good range.

“I think we’ll see more from (Feuerbach); she just needs more shots. (Affolter) isn’t a big gunner, but she’s consistent.”

Olsen can shoot from deep, but that’s not her singular strength.

“We haven’t had anybody like her,” Jensen said. “That mid-range game, pass-first mentality. I told her, ‘Man, I wish I could coach you for four years.’”

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Four players — Stuelke, Callie Levin (a freshman from Solon), Kennise Johnson and Aaliyah Guyton — did not go through drills Thursday, other than shooting.

Johnson and Guyton both are recovering from knee injuries.

“I hope when we come back in the fall, (Guyton will) be going fully through drills,” Jensen said. “She’s disappointed that we’re holding her back a little bit. We want to be extra-cautious.”

The 2024-25 schedule isn’t out in full, but the first exhibition game is about 100 days away.

“There are no starting lineups; everybody is getting reps,” Jensen said. “Right now, everybody is undefeated.”

2024-25 Iowa women’s basketball numerical roster

SENIORS

3 Sydney Affolter (5-11 G, Chicago)

4 Kylie Feuerbach (6-0 G, Syacmore, Ill.)

33 Lucy Olsen (5-9 G, Collegeville, Pa.)

34 A.J. Ediger (6-2 F, Hudsonville, Mich.)

44 Addison O’Grady (6-4 C, Aurora, Colo.)

JUNIORS

2 Taylor McCabe (5-9 G, Fremont, Neb.)

23 Jada Gyamfi (6-1 F, Johnston)

45 Hannah Stuelke (6-2 F, Cedar Rapids)

SOPHOMORES

13 Kennise Johnson (5-4 G, Joliet, Ill.)

FRESHMEN

1 Taylor Stremlow (5-10 G, Verona, Wis.)

5 Ava Heiden (6-4 C, Sherwood, Ore.)

11 Aaliyah Guyton (5-7 G, Peoria, Ill.)

32 Callie Levin (5-9 G, Solon)

55 Teagan Mallegni (5-10 G, McFarland, Wis.)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com