“Lucy Olsen is an elite scorer”: Women’s basketball analyst details how different Iowa is after Caitlin Clark’s departure

Senior guard Lucy Olsen has been picking up the scoring duties for Iowa during the post-Caitlin Clark era. The Pennsylvania native has been the team's primary playmaker, leading the Hawkeyes in averages of points and assists with 18.3 and 4.9, respectively, thus far in the 2024-2025 season.

Many fans and spectators alike have since taken notice of how the fourth-year standout is taking advantage of her bigger role and thriving in it. This includes the likes of women's basketball analysts, Meghan McKeown and Zora Stephenson, who had this to say in the latest episode of their podcast, Got Next with Meghan and Zora:

"Lucy Olsen is an elite scorer in her own right. It's just a different style that they're [Iowa] getting used to themselves playing and they're starting to get things to click more and more as we head into conference play," McKeown shared to which Stephenson quickly agreed to. [13:06]

The Hawkeyes are coming off a nip-and-tuck 68-66 loss to Michigan State last Sunday, Dec. 15, where Olsen was limited to just 13 points, three rebounds and a steal. Before that, however, she posted her season-high in a 75-69 win against Iowa State last Dec. 11 with 25 markers, five assists, and two steals.

Olsen also had 23 points, three boards, and five dimes in a 78-68 loss to Tennesse back on Dec. 7 as she has yet to score in single digits in the 11 games Iowa has played this season. As the 21-year-old is gradually soaking in her new role as one of the focal points of the team, she can eventually stay consistent with the more confidence she gains for herself.

Iowa currently sits at a 9-2 record in the Big Ten Conference as a result of the team's new identity by way of Olsen's renewed play. With conference games upcoming shortly, the Hawkeyes will first turn their attention to Nothern Iowa on Friday on their home floor.

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A new overall Iowa Hawkeyes system is in place

Olsen's production has been the result of a recalibrated Iowa Hawkeyes squad that no longer has to have the system revolve around then-college sensation Caitlin Clark. Backtracking a bit, Meghan McKeown and Zara Stephenson detailed how coach Jan Jensen is performing.

"Coach Jensen said that, 'She [Olsen] was almost hestating a little bit just because it was taking her some time.' She wants to make the right reads. Iowa runs a read and react offense. The more you have people that have played together, the easier that offense is to run," the former said. [12:00]

"That's why they were so good at it for four years because that starting five with Caitlin Clark was together for so long," McKeown explained to which she adds, "Lucy Olsen, Hannah Stuelke has taken a little bit of time to transition to that forward role... They're coming along but it's definitely a change." [12:16]

However, even with most of the team adjusting to the assignments and rotations, Iowa has seemingly picked up the pace with their 9-2 record so far. The Hawkeyes will have to see how they fare in more deeper and competitive games this year, especially with conference play ramping up. Only time can tell if Iowa can make a deep run in the tournament once again as they have in recent campaigns.