Iowa women's basketball: Thoughts on each scholarship player entering 2024-25 season (2024)

Between the program's eventful offseason and current WNBA success, Iowa women's basketball has hardly escaped the headlines since the season ended in Cleveland two months ago.

That's largely been a positive thing, even with massive names like Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Lisa Bluder moving on from the Hawkeye program following back-to-back memorable seasons. With Jan Jensen at the helm and another promising roster now fully on campus, Iowa seems to be in good position to keep this unprecedented momentum rolling.

With practice underway, let's comb through the Hawkeyes roster with thoughts on every player ahead of the upcoming year. Names are listed in alphabetical order.

Sydney Affolter

Although drawing conclusions from a 60-second video on social media isn't always wise, there was a telling moment in the clip Iowa dropped last Tuesday to signal the start of practice.

Just seconds in, Affolter is talking to the entire Hawkeye group while offering encouraging words about turning the page. Affolter's on-court contributions were significant last year throughout Iowa's postseason run, but filling the top leadership void could become her ultimate responsibility ahead of her senior year.

Any discussions about what comes next for the Hawkeyes usually center on replacing Clark. Just as important is finding the next vocal leader that Martin became. Affolter feels like a logical early candidate to do so.

A.J. Ediger

Ediger inched her way up the post ladder toward the end of last season, appearing in two Big Ten Tournament games and three NCAA Tournament games. Two of those cameos included double-digit minutes after having just one such showing during the regular season.

You often see that career-ending urgency produce something unexpected in a player's final year. Ediger will try to do just that in her senior season.

Kylie Feuerbach

A seasoned guard now entering her fifth collegiate season (one cut short by a torn ACL), Feuerbach provides veteran stability in an Iowa backcourt going through change.

Last year's averages of minutes (13.8) and points (2.6) per game both should increase significantly, as Feuerbach likely enters the starting lineup consistently for the first time since her true freshman year at Iowa State. It remains to be seen how exactly Iowa's backcourt rotation shakes out, but Feuerbach will be right in the middle of things.

Aaliyah Guyton

Nearly six months removed from her ACL tear last December, Guyton went through Iowa's first practice with a knee brace on but seemed to slide in nicely. Coming off a serious injury may not create the best recipe for early playing time, but Guyton will be ready for whatever comes her way in year one.

Jada Gyamfi

Although Gyamfi enters her third season having appeared in 28 games without double-digit minutes in any of them, appreciation for Gyamfi's role has grown with Iowa in the spotlight.

She's clearly brings the most off-the-court energy and is the lighthearted piece teams usually need to balance out the competitive vibes always looming overhead. That's not to say Gyamfi can't expand her basketball role in her junior year, but her importance is there even if she doesn't.

Ava Heiden

The 6-foot-4 freshman popped on the first practice video, her size and stature encouraging for someone who just arrived on campus. Heiden feels like the first-year player with the best chance for ample playing time right away.

If the Hawkeyes can get her in a productive spot early, that'll open up so much more for Jensen in year one.

Kennise Johnson

A season-ending injury suffered in practice late last year casts doubt on what Johnson's impact can be in her sophom*ore campaign. A medical redshirt should be obtained if next season doesn't materialize, though Johnson will certainly be doing everything possible to carve out a role in her second season.

Callie Levin

Levin is now the third Iowan on the 2024-25 roster, having just wrapped up a dynamic career at Solon before joining the Hawkeyes. She doesn't have the recruiting accolades that her fellow 2024 signees do, but that doesn't mean Levin can't find an Iowa role.

Soaking up everything in this first season is paramount to future success.

Teagan Mallegni

Another newcomer looking to find a role in this first season, Mallegni has a chance to add to Iowa's recruiting success in the state of Wisconsin. How quickly she (and the rest of the freshmen) can mesh with the other Hawkeyes will dictate much about how this first year goes.

Taylor McCabe

The name Iowa fans are maybe most thrilled to see in an expanded role, McCabe has waited patiently as a reserve on Iowa's two national runner-up seasons.

McCabe played double-digit minutes 17 times last season, but that usage is set to increase as the Nebraska sharpshooter has her first path to legit playing time in her Iowa career. Out of the gates, it seems like McCabe and Feuerbach will battle for that final starting guard spot.

And even if that doesn't materialize right away, McCabe will be one of the first names off the bench. A big junior year could be in store.

Addison O'Grady

Flashes of brilliance have blended with frustrating moments throughout O'Grady's first three years. Her junior per-game averages of 8.8 minutes and 3.9 points were better than her sophom*ore stats (5.6 and 2.0) — but still below her freshman production (10.0 and 4.1).

So what does O'Grady have in store for her last go-around? Jensen has tried to work her post magic on O'Grady for three years, and perhaps sliding into the head-coaching role will accelerate more growth for O'Grady next year. It'll be a huge plus if Iowa can get anything consistent from O'Grady.

Lucy Olsen

All indications are Olsen has meshed beautifully with her new teammates, an unsurprising but still crucial fact as the Villanova transfer becomes the top offensive weapon in a program that loves to score.

It seems Iowa fans will allow Olsen to thrive without placing Clark-esque expectations on her production. That's always critical for the person replacing THE person. As long as Iowa can transition its Olsen-led cohesion to the game floor, the Hawkeyes should be just fine on offense.

Taylor Stremlow

Opportunity is there for Stremlow to find a spot in this backcourt rotation. Any consistent production Iowa can get from its freshman guards will go a long way in establishing depth the Hawkeyes will almost certainly need.

Hannah Stuelke

We've seen Stuelke ascend from a freshman role player to a sophom*ore star — and now comes her biggest opportunity yet. Stuelke and Olsen will be the offensive centerpieces, particularly encouraging if Iowa can get enough reliability at the "5" position to move Stuelke back to her natural "4" spot. That could unlock a first-team all-Big Ten caliber campaign.

The other element is how Stuelke's voice resonates now that she's a pivotal Iowa leader. Veteran voices have allowed Stuelke's quiet demeanor to grow organically. Now the Hawkeyes need their homegrown product to be a pivotal presence in the locker room.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register andHawkCentral.com. Email him atmsouthard@gannett.comor follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.