Iowa’s footprint in the WNBA is showing up all over the stat sheet this season, with a mix of veteran production and younger players carving out roles across the league.
Bridget Carleton has been a steady presence for the Portland Fire, putting up 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals over 25 games, all starts. The eighth-year forward from Iowa State has given Portland dependable two-way minutes every time she’s stepped on the floor.
Caitlin Clark continues to post big numbers for the Indiana Fever. The third-year guard from West Des Moines and Iowa is averaging 20.7 points, 7.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 22 games, and she has started all 22.
Megan Gustafson has also been productive for the Portland Fire. The eighth-year center from Iowa is averaging 12.2 points while shooting 54.5% and adding 3.9 rebounds in 24 games, 15 of them starts.
Kiah Stokes has anchored the Golden State Valkyries front line, averaging 3.7 points, 5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 26 games, all starts. The eleventh-year center from Linn-Mar and Connecticut has been a regular in the lineup.
Kate Martin is contributing for the Los Angeles Sparks, averaging 2.6 points and one rebound in 14 games. Lucy Olsen, now with the Washington Mystics, is averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 assists in 16 games.
Former Iowa collegians and Iowa natives who have contributed statistically in WNBA games this season through Sunday: Bridget Carleton, Caitlin Clark, Megan Gustafson, Kate Martin, Lucy Olsen and Kiah Stokes.
In Other News...
Ben McCollum Just Made An Early Move Hawkeyes Fans Will Notice
Ben McCollum is already making an early splash on the recruiting trail at Iowa, and his latest move points toward the kind of long-view talent evaluation Hawkeyes fans should get used to watching. The offer went to Noah Woods, a 6-foot-8 forward from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who plays at Washington High School and on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, putting him on the radar as one of the more intriguing young prospects in the 2029 class.
Woods is still early in his recruitment, but the attention is starting to build, with South Dakota State and Nebraska also in the mix. For Iowa, the timing matters as much as the name itself, since getting involved this early with a player viewed as one of the top prospects in his state gives McCollum a chance to establish a relationship before the race really takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Trevin Jirak Is Suddenly Back In Iowas Frontcourt Conversation
Trevin Jirak spent much of his freshman year on the edge of Iowas rotation, but his place in the frontcourt conversation looks a lot different heading into this season. Under the new five-for-five eligibility rule, he now has four years left, and the Hawkeyes have spent the offseason watching a bigger, more confident version of the 6-foot-10 forward emerge in practice. The staff has noticed the way his game has started to fit together, and theyve been quick to point out that his style gives Iowa something a little different in the post.
What makes Jirak especially interesting is how many ways the Hawkeyes can imagine using him. Iowa has been working him at the four, even in lineups with 7-foot-3 Andrew McKeever, and Jirak believes he can help stretch the floor while holding his own defensively on the perimeter. He was one of the most eye-catching players in the open practice last week, and the next step is whether that offseason progress shows up consistently once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Names Are Starting To Stand Out In NBA Summer League
Julys NBA Summer League slate offered a familiar kind of scoreboard watching for Iowa fans, with a loose collection of former Hawkeyes and Iowa natives popping up across rosters and box scores. Hason Ward, Josh Dix, Keshon Gilbert, Brendan Hausen, Payton Sandfort and Bennett Stirtz were among the names to log minutes for teams such as the Warriors, Thunder and Hawks, giving the program a broader footprint than usual in the summer showcase.
The most encouraging part for Iowa followers is not just that these players were present, but that several of them found ways to contribute in different roles, from scoring and rebounding to playmaking. Gilberts work stood out in particular across multiple stops, while the mix also included Joshua Jefferson, Curtis Jones, Tamin Lipsey, Mitch Mascari and Trey Campbell, a reminder that Iowas pipeline is showing up in more places than one summer roster at a time. [Read more 🡒]