Last week I traveled to Iowa City to see the Hawkeye Women showcase their last summer practice session and media opportunity for the summer. It was Coach Jan Jensen's last of four such looks at what the upcoming season might offer. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with five new faces on the roster. I will say, it was eye-opening.
After an hour-long work on fundamentals, the doors were opened to the media to see the team run through different sets, i.e. passing to the post and half-court defense. Coach Jensen spent a good deal of time fine-tuning what she was going to demand from her second-year squad. I expected to spend much of my time watching Hannah Stuelke (just back from her Team USA Gold Medal win at the AmeriCup Tournament in Santiago, Chile) and highly touted freshman, Addie Deal. Boy, was I wrong.
What I was most intrigued by was the amount of work done with post players Ava Heiden and Layla Hays. Heiden was a huge factor in Iowa's late season success. She showed she'd arrived and was ready to play some big-time basketball. The early season looks like she is ready to explode to another level. The real bonus, though, might be freshman, Layla Hays. Hays, a highly touted 6-5 post player from Alaska could be the biggest surprise of all. Let me tell you, she will be a hard move off the block for any Hawkeye foe. She is big, smooth, tough and has some of the biggest legs I've seen on a player not named Audi Crooks of Iowa State. Hays can hold her own, for sure, and the practice time with her and Heiden going at each other will be a plus for both.
Another freshman, Journey Houston, a solid wing player from Davenport, was also impactful. In taking an early look at this season's roster, Houston might have been the 11th player off the bench. I'm not so sure about that now. She is completely recovered from a devastating knee injury she suffered late in her junior year. She is not a slight built player. She is a solid, 6-0 wing that has a great three-point shot and is known for her slashing ability. She might make it tough on Coach Jensen to not find her playing time.
So, by watching Heiden, Hays and Houston, I almost completely forgot the other freshman phenom, Deal. The 5-Star recruit from California is going to be special. She might not wow you every minute she's on the court, but she has in her arsenal, a unique ability to hit the court length pass or long distance three-pointer. That will make her extremely dangerous. She's going to lull people to sleep....then take over. Where Iowa was once heavy on Caitlin's efforts, the depth of this year's team and big-time skill at every position on the court, will make the Hawkeyes dangerous.
Heck, I haven't even mentioned the two transfers into Iowa's program. Point Guard Chit Chat Wright from Georgia Tech and wing Emely Rodriquez from UCF. Wright is super quick, is a great passer and has the ability to go outside and hit the 3. Rodriquez was making the transition at practice of learning a completely new offense. She seemed a little robotic, but that will all but be eliminated by Big Ten season. Rodriquez has a skill set that hasn't been seen in Iowa City for some time. That's not to say she's the next coming of Caitlin Clark, she isn't. But she is only in her 4th year of playing big-time basketball. Her abilities are endless.
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| Hayes will be a tough move off the block for Hawk Women |
I haven't yet made mention of four contributors from last season. Taylor McCabe, Kylie Feuerbach, Taylor Stremlow and Teagen Mallegni. Do McCabe and Feuerbach factor into the starting lineup this year. I'm not sure. I think the safest thing to say, it might very well depend on the opponent. If it calls for outside shooting, it's McCabe, if it's defense, it's Kylie. McCabe is a dangerous three-point weapon and Feuerbach is as tough a defender as there is. Stremlow will get minutes because she is a dynamo when she plays. She does so many things so well. Mallegni has shown a few glimpses but might very well give up some playing time to Houston. All that will sort itself out in the pre-season games. By Big Ten season, a shorter rotation will appear. Injuries though, always present opportunities.
And then there's Hannah. She could be primed to return to her early years when she and Clark ran the fast break to perfection. If she adds a mid-range to her game, she could be destined for a great senior season.
The remaining players on the roster PG Callie Levin, PG Kennise Johnson and F Jada Gyamfi will be the bench frenzies. Their job will be to keep the group on task and offer great team chemistry. And if duty calls, be ready.
Now that I've had a couple of days to reflect on what I saw last Tuesday, I've come to these thoughts. Iowa's non-conference season will be tough. They play UCONN, Baylor, Miami (FL) and Iowa State. These will be learning opportunities. It will make them tough and seasoned and I believe, a team that will be hard to defend. They will be able to play up-tempo, slow down and anything in-between. Get ready Hawk fans. Could be an interesting ride in 2025-26.
And don't forget the new faces. You're gonna like them.
😱😎🤩🇺🇸🤗
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