IOWA CITY, Iowa– The Hawkeyes continue sending top talent to the WNBA. On Monday night, Iowa point guard Lucy Olsen was drafted by the in the second round of the draft by the Washington Mystics. The unanimous all-Big Ten selection was a core player for Jan Jensen’s Hawkeyes. This past season, she put up 17.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per outing.
Olsen’s game speaks for itself. She’s a great shot creator with a lethal mid-range jumper, but she also showcased an ability to hit threes at a consistent rate. The Pennsylvania native also had a task that nobody has ever had to face… taking over for the greatest college player ever.
“You know, Lucy, even before we had our changes with our coaching staff, Lucy was really courageous, right?” Jensen said. “She came in through the shadows of Caitlin Clark, and when she came here, she really liked what that culture felt like.
“And she leaned into those moments. And throughout the year when you’re transferring in as a point guard, you’re trying to learn a system, you’re trying to run it, and then you’re managing that orbit that still includes Caitlin Clark,” Jensen continued. “And I thought she really started to get that confidence and lean in to what she can do.”
Olsen arrived to Iowa and was immediately a fan favorite. Jensen mentioned a few times that she wished that she could have coached Olsen for all four years rather than just one. The feeling was mutual and Olsen said just as much after the final loss of her college career.
“Yeah, I’m super grateful that I got the chance to play here,” Olsen said. “There were a lot of ups and downs, but I’m super proud of the team and everyone became my family. I’ve got the best coach here, so yeah, I’m just super grateful for it. I wouldn’t want it any other way. It [a win] just wasn’t supposed to happen tonight.”
Getting drafted to the WNBA is an accomplishment in itself, but making a roster can be difficult. The Mystics have a plethora of talented bigs and Olsen should have plenty of talented scorers to get the ball to including former UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards.
Despite only playing one year in the Hawkeye uniform, Olsen managed to carve her own legacy, including dropping 28 points in an upset win over a top-five USC team. Olsen’s scoring prowess, but basketball IQ should translate well to the next level and the team around her will give her a chance to succeed.
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