Iowa Women’s Basketball Adds Former Players to 2025 Coaching Staff

Caitlin Clark's impact on Iowa women's basketball continues to resonate as she made a memorable preseason WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, delighting fans and teammates with her performance. Clark's success has influenced new recruits like Emely Rodriguez, who decided to transfer to Iowa inspired by Clark's legacy and aims to follow her path to the WNBA. Meanwhile, former Iowa players are transitioning into coaching roles to support the program's future; Sydney Affolter joined Iowa’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant after going undrafted in the WNBA, expressing excitement to give back to the program. Affolter, a key contributor in Iowa's recent NCAA tournament runs, is seen by head coach Jan Jensen as a valuable leader beginning her coaching career. Similarly, at Iowa State, Emily Ryan, a standout player with remarkable achievements, was named a graduate assistant coach, highlighting a trend of former players moving into coaching roles to stay connected to the sport. These developments underscore the lasting influence of Clark’s era and the commitment of former players to nurture the next generation of Hawkeyes basketball talent.