The Iowa Hawkeyes are believed to have found their “next Caitlin Clark” following the guard’s recent step up to the pros.
Clark has been drafted by the Indiana Fever, having opted to forego her final year of eligibility in favor of a move to the WNBA. While the Hawkeyes will regret the loss, they have landed a payer believed to be just as effective.
Lucy Olsen has opted to transfer from Villanova to Iowa ahead of next season, announcing as much on Twitter/X this week in a post captioned “New beginnings.”
Clark seemed excited about the move, giving her approval via said platform.
Olsen was the NCAA’s third-leading scorer last term, behind Clark and JuJu Watkins, averaging 23.3 points per game. She also led Villanova in assists, steals, and minutes played. She was named the Big East’s Most Improved Player and was a unanimous All-Big East first-team selection, also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists as the Wildcats to a 22-13 record.
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The 5ft-9 guard started 105 games in three seasons for Villanova, hitting 134 threes, 55 of which were scored last season.
Caitlin Clark’s Departure Leaves A Huge Hole
Caitlin Clark, drafted at No. 1 overall, has left an Iowa program with ambitions of returning to the national title game for a third consecutive season, with a huge hole to fill. The team has also lost Kate Martin, who was the No. 18 overall pick of the recent WNBA Draft. Gabbie Marshall and Molly Davis have also graduated.
Olsen’s arrival is expected to soften the blow. Her time at Villanova saw her reach the Sweet 16 during her sophomore year, with the Wildcats losing in the second round when she was a freshman.
While they did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament this year, Villanova made it to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament finals, where they lost to Illinois.
HOT NEWS:
Caitlin Clark and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, took in a star-studded skyline in New York City after the Indiana Fever selected her with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft on Monday night.
The former All-American point guard at Iowa and McCaffrey, a former member of Iowa’s men’s basketball team and the son of Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery, enjoyed cocktails at The Fleur Room, according to a photo Clark shared on her Instagram Story.
The glass-encased lounge on Moxy Chelsea’s 35th floor features 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline, from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building — where Clark and the 2024 WNBA Draft class took photos before the big event.
Caitlin Clark and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery celebrate after she goes No. 1 in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Instagram/Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery celebrates after she goes No. 1 in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Instagram/Connor McCaffrey
Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery celebrates after she goes No. 1 in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Instagram/Connor McCaffrey
“My fav person in the world,” the 22-year-old Clark captioned a post that featured two photographs of her and McCaffrey.
McCaffrey, who currently works as a team assistant for the Indiana Pacers, also reposted a photo of Clark from the Pacers and Fever captioned: “Welcome to Indiana.”
The couple was with Clark’s former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin, Jada Gyamfi and Gabbie Marshall as well as Raina Harmon, an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes, as seen in photos on social media.
Follow along with The Post’s coverage of WNBA No.1 draft pick Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark celebrates with former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin, Jada Gyamfi and Gabbie Marshall and Raina Harmon, an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes after the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York on April 15, 2024. Instagram
Caitlin Clark celebrates with former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin, Jada Gyamfi and Gabbie Marshall and Raina Harmon, an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes after the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York on April 15, 2024. Instagram
Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin celebrate after the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York on April 15, 2024. Instagram
Caitlin Clark celebrates with former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin, Jada Gyamfi and Gabbie Marshall and Raina Harmon, an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes after the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York on April 15, 2024. Instagram
Martin attended the WNBA draft, which took place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, to support Clark and ended up getting selected in the second round, 18th overall, by the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Taking to his X account, McCaffrey gushed over Clark in response to someone who wrote: “I want to see @connor_m30 reaction to Caitlin’s draft day fit.”
McCaffrey shared a few flirty emojis in a reply post, and Clark responded with a smiling teary-eyed emoji.
It’s unclear when exactly Clark and McCaffrey got together.
Clark went public with their relationship when she shared photos of the couple on a boat together in August 2023.
McCaffrey was a constant in publicly supporting Clark through March Madness 2024.
The couple must be thrilled that Clark is staying in the Midwest to play for the Fever, as Herb Simon owns the WNBA team and the Pacers.
Clark’s rise to fame at Iowa played a major role in the growth and dominance of women’s college basketball throughout March Madness.
The NCAA women’s title game between Clark’s Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks surpassed the men’s UConn-Purdue championship matchup by millions.
Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffrey. Instagram/Caitlin Clark
Clark, the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader, for men’s and women’s, set another record in the 2024 title game with 18 points in the first quarter, which was the most in a period in the national championship game.
Iowa came up short to South Carolina, 87-75, after the Hawkeyes lost to LSU in the title game a year prior.
The WNBA will begin training camps on April 28 and the season starts May 14.
The Indiana Fever open the season at Connecticut.
HOT NEWS:
CAITLIN CLARK HAD COOLEST REACTION TO TEAMMATE GETTING DRAFTED
Not a single basketball fan was surprised when the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
Everyone assumed that would happen, especially after the season she just had at Iowa.
What people didn’t expect, however, was for Clark’s teammate, Kate Martin, to come off the board in the second round of the draft.
The Las Vegas Aces selected Martin 18th overall on Monday night.
Martin was nicknamed “The Glue” while at Iowa because she always kept the team together.
She played great defense, rebounded well, and would always come up big in crunch time.
As you’d expect, Clark was thrilled that Martin got drafted as early as she did.
Clark posted a selfie with Martin on Instagram along with this caption: “Couldn’t be happier for you.”
Martin spoke to ESPN after getting drafted by the Aces. She told Holly Rowe that she attended the draft in Brooklyn simply to support Clark.
“There are a lot of emotions right now,” Martin said.
“I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin, but I was hoping to hear my name called.
All I wanted was an opportunity and I got it. I’m really excited.”
WNBA training camp begins on April 28. We’ll find out then if Martin can make an impact.
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