College basketball is right around the corner, and the hype around the Iowa women’s basketball team is already buzzing.
The wide majority of the women’s college basketball landscape assumed the Hawkeyes wouldn’t see nearly the same amount of attention as they did last year — and rightfully so.
Last season was one-of-a-kind. Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, and Gabbie Marshall as well as head coach Lisa Bluder formed a team that sold out almost every game, broke several viewership records, and for the second time in a row finished as a runner-up in the NCAA tournament to powerhouse South Carolina.
But without these four faces this time around, Iowa still sold out its season tickets for the second straight season, proving that the last few years will have a lingering effect on the fanbase and the community.
“It’s a really good environment every time that I’ve been there before,” fourth-year student Anna Scott said. “Regardless of who’s playing, I think there’s a really good culture around basketball at Iowa, and it’s always felt really supportive of the players, whoever’s on the court. It’s a lot of fun to go every single time.”
The season tickets package is available to all Hawkeye fans, and prices vary:
Renewal season tickets are priced at $210 for adults, $175 for faculty, staff and senior discounts, and $100 for youth tickets
New season tickets are priced at $225 for adults, $190 for faculty, staff and senior discounts, and $115 for youth
Student season tickets are priced at $65
With the one-time purchase, fans can attend any home game they choose without having to buy a single-game ticket, even if they attend every home game for the season.
Megan Chapman, a 27-year-old Iowa City Community School District teacher who had Iowa women’s basketball season tickets for over a decade, has had a great experience being a season ticket holder throughout the years.
“It’s been tremendous,” Chapman said. “Thinking back to Megan Gustafson, and then having all the other players up until [Caitlin Clark], just to be able to watch Carver go from very few fans … It’s pretty phenomenal.”
Third-year University of Iowa student Robert Rysz went to nearly every home game last season despite not being a season ticket holder. This year, he made sure to guarantee himself a spot at every home game this time around.
“Man, the electric energy at those games is really unlike anything else,” Rysz said. “The football games are flowing loud, but at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, it’s just something else.”
He did have a brief moment when his season ticket aspirations were in jeopardy.
“I logged on right about 9 a.m. [when they went on sale on Oct. 1], and I took the link, and I followed it,” Rysz said. “About, like, 9:01 a.m., by the time I reached the checkout page, it was already gone.
“I was pretty mad, I won’t lie,” he added. “These women’s basketball games, in my two years of being at the university, have been the most fun things to go to. So I was really, really hoping to get these tickets.”
Luckily, he purchased a student season tickets package a couple of days later.
Student season tickets are relatively similar to regular season tickets — gaining access to every home game with a one-time purchase. However, student tickets are only available to UI students for a one-time purchase of $65, and those who purchase the package will guarantee themselves a spot in the student section.
There were no student season tickets last season. Instead, students were able to purchase single-game tickets for the low price of $5.
Scott only went to four games throughout last season as a result and will do the same thing this year.
“It’s mostly a price thing,” Scott said. “If I had the money, I probably would [go to more games]. If I had the time, I probably would go to more games too. I’m pretty busy … I wouldn’t buy them if I couldn’t go to most of them.”
A whole new look
Last year, Clark led the nation in scoring with 31.6 points per game. USC’s Juju Watkins was second with 27.1 points per game, and Villanova guard Lucy Olsen took the third spot with 23.3 points per game.
And after the 2023-24 season, Olsen put her name in the transfer portal. Iowa made a strong recruitment pitch to the star guard, and it was enough for her to commit to Iowa just eight days after the portal entrance.
With Clark’s exit, Olsen brings a new style of dominance for Hawkeye fans to be excited about.
“Even with Caitlin Clark gone … you’re still looking forward to those games,” fourth-year student Max Pesola said. “It might be a little different [with Olsen], but the culture is still there.”
Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke had a breakout 2023-24 season that saw her post averages of 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on 62.7 percent shooting on her way to earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. The 6-foot-3 center primarily played off of Clark’s passing, whether that was in the pick-and-roll, a low post feed, or a throw-ahead pass.
Scott, who’s seen Stuelke play since high school in the Cedar Rapids area, is most excited to see how the star will take the next jump in her game.
“She’s gotten so much better from year to year since she started playing for Iowa,” Scott said. “I think she’s a really talented player.”
And Hawkeye guard Sydney Affolter, who also made a jump last season, averaging 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds across 39 games and 12 starts, is expected to make another jump after playing a big role throughout the team’s NCAA tournament run last season.
Unfortunately, the fourth-year guard will be out until early November after undergoing knee surgery. The anticipation is certainly there for when she makes her return to the court.
But in the meantime, who else rises to the occasion will remain to be seen.
“I’m excited to see … who steps up and shoots shots and shows leadership on the court,” Chapman said. “I think [Clark’s] basketball IQ was able to be shared and taught to other girls — to the other young women. And I can’t wait to see who brings what this year.”
So, even with the loss of those who’ve shaped the image of this program and brought everlasting memories to Iowa women’s basketball fans, this new chapter for the program will still hold that same energy, that same excitement, and that same loyalty within Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“I hate to take the phrase from RAYGUN, but ‘Why not?’” Chapman said. “Why not get in there, be able to see teamwork and positive attitude and just how hard they work and how hard they play? They really are a special group of women.”