Panic swept through Iowa the moment it was time to say goodbye to their hometown hero, Caitlin Clark. After two magical seasons that saw the Hawkeyes reach the championship game under coach Bluder, fans knew they were losing more than just a star player–they were losing the centerpiece of a team that had captured the hearts of the whole community. To make matters worse, Lisa Bluder retired as well and was replaced by assistant coach Jan Jensen. Last season didn’t unfold exactly as many had hoped, but it quickly became clear just how tough it would be to fill the void left by Clark.

The Hawkeyes stumbled out of the gate, starting 2-6 in Big Ten play, and doubts began to creep in. But as the season wore on, they rediscovered their rhythm, winning 11 of their final 15 games and even advancin

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