For the second straight season, an Iowa point guard has been selected in the WNBA Draft. Last year, of course, it was Caitlin Clark going #1 overall to the Indiana Fever. This year, it was Lucy Olsen being selected by the Washington Mystics with the 23rd pick.
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Olsen capped off a strong college basketball career by transferring to Iowa for her senior season in 2024-25 and earning All-Big Ten honors and helping to lead the Hawkeyes back to the NCAA Tournament. In 32 games and 32 starts at point guard for the Hawkeyes, the Collegeville, Pennsylvania native averaged 17.9 points and 5.1 assists per game to lead Iowa in both statistical categories. She added 3.6 rebounds per game, as well.
In addition to leading the Hawkeyes in points and assists per contest, Olsen finished as the team leader in minutes (1086), total field goals (216), total points (573), total assists (162) and was third in steals (40). Olsen also ranked second on the team in made three-pointers (54) and fourth in three-point shooting overall (36.0%).
Prior to joining Iowa, Olsen was a two-time All-Big East selection at Villanova, as well as an All-Rookie team honoree in 2021-22. As a junior, Olsen averaged 23.3 ppg for the Wildcats in 2023-24, the third-highest scoring average in the nation (behind Clark and USC star JuJu Watkins).
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Olsen, listed at 5’10”, is a prototypical point guard who’s a skilled ballhandler and distributor. She was turnover-prone at times (3.1 per game in ’24-25) and will likely need to work on taking care of the ball a bit more at the WNBA level. However, given that she profiles as backup guard in the WNBA, she also won’t be relied on to be a primary ball-handler in the WNBA to the same extent that she was in college, which should help reduce her turnover numbers.
While she has an unusual, almost catapult-like shooting motion at times, Olsen was a highly effective scorer at the college level. After averaging 23.3 ppg as a junior at Villanova, Olsen dipped to 17.9 ppg as senior at Iowa, but that decline was mainly a function of not needing to carry as much of the scoring load. She shot 36% from beyond the arc, and 47% on 2-point attempts. Olsen has a very effective mid-range game and was very good at converting jump shots in and around the painted area.
Olsen may struggle some as a one-on-one defender at the next level as she doesn’t possess elite athleticism or quickness. That said, she profiles as a capable help defender in the WNBA. Her long wingspan and good anticipation help her disrupt passing lanes, which she used to snag 40 steals last season.
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Olsen is the 17th former Hawkeye to hear her name called in the WNBA Draft.
2025: Lucy Olsen (R2, 23)
2024: Caitlin Clark (R1, 1), Kate Martin (R2, 18)
2023: Monika Czinano (R3, 26)
2020: Kathleen Doyle (R2, 14)
2019: Megan Gustafson (R2, 17)
2015: Samantha Logic (R1, 10)
2011: Kachine Alexander (R3, 26)
2006: Crystal Smith (R3, 32)
2002: Lindsey Meder (R3, 38)
2001: Cara Consuegra (R4, 56)
1999: Amy Herrig (R4 38)
1998: Tangela Smith (R2, 12), Nadine Domond (R2, 19), Angela Hamblin (R3, 23)
1997: Toni Foster (R1, 8), Tia Jackson (R2, 9)
The addition of the expansion Golden State Valkyries this season has increased the WNBA’s total roster spots available from 144 to 156 — but the WNBA remains the most competitive North American sports league in terms of making a roster, to say nothing of getting meaningful playing time. As a second/third round pick, Olsen will face pretty long odds to earn a roster spot in the WNBA.
Still, Kate Martin was in a similar position last year and carved out a role with the Las Vegas Aces (11.5 minutes per game in 34 appearances), so there’s reason to be optimistic for Olsen. Regardless of what her professional future holds, Olsen has already accomplished a great deal by putting together a tremendous collegiate career and hearing her name called in the WNBA Draft.
