A Hawkeye Snub? Iowa Women Not Picked as a Big Ten Favorite

Big Ten women's basketball is going to look a lot different this season. Partly because of what is new, and partly because of who is gone. The league will no longer be tormented by Hawkeye guard Caitlin Clark, the Rookie of the Year in the WNBA. And some West Coast powers have joined the league, including a team that boasts this year's presumptive player of the year.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the media and coaches in the Big Ten have weighed in and USC has been listed as the favorite to win the conference this season. They are led by preseason player of the year JuJu Watkins. UCLA was picked to finish second in the league. But what about your Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that has won three straight Big Ten Conference Tournament titles?

The Hawkeyes have been left out of the top five this preseason. Behind USC and UCLA are Ohio State, Maryland, and Indiana. Many clearly think that the departures of Clark, Kate Martin, and head coach Lisa Bluder will be too much to overcome this season to compete for a Big Ten title. But Iowa still has plenty of firepower this season!

Iowa is represented on the preseason all-conference team by Hannah Stuelke and Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen according to the Gazette. Stuelke was second-team All-Big Ten last season and shot over 62% from the field. Olsen was third in the nation in scoring and surpassed 30 points 10 different times. She'll be counted on to pick up the scoring with the departure of Clark and Martin.

Iowa also has plenty of players returning with Final Four experience! Sydney Affolter, Kylie Feuerbach, Taylor McCabe, and Addison O'Grady. Plus, talented freshmen like Ava Heiden and Aaliyah Guyton. All led by new head coach Jan Jensen, who sat next to coach Bluder for decades.

For the first time in several years, the Iowa women are not the favorites heading into the Big Ten season. No longer the hunted, coach Jensen and the team can enjoy the underdog role. Despite what is gone, there is still a lot to love about this Iowa team.

LET'S GO HAWKS!