From Struggles With Migraines and Ankle Injury to Assisting Caitlin Clark Into the NCAA Finals, Explore Hannah Stuelke’s 2024 Iowa Journey

Caitlin Clark might have swept away the season’s glory with her distinguished record-setting, but she kept telling everyone what to look for with Iowa, and that’s Hannah Stuelke. In today’s game, it was Stuelke who was carrying Iowa forwards to a 71-69 win over the UConn Huskies in the Final Four matchup. UConn’s Nika Muhl took away the breathing room from Clark, not letting her have a clear shot. Meanwhile, Hannah led the team, scoring a team-high 23 points, with 9-of-12 shooting, while Clark and the Hawkeyes found their rhythm in post second half of the game.

The game was a reflection of Stuelke’s bloom as a key performer in Iowa’s success. With the final matchup coming up against the undefeated South Carolina, Clark is set to the last game of her college basketball career. However, with her gone, Iowa wouldn’t be left high and dry as Iowa’s upcoming supernova, Hannah Stuelke stepping up on the role.

Hannah Stuelke, the next Caitlin Clark?

This season, the sophomore forward’s performance has touched newfound heights as she played shoulder-to-shoulder alongside Clark like her aide-de-camp in every game. Stuelke’s regular season stats tallied 13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, while she shot her field goals at 62.5%.

This season, Stuelke has registered some remarkable scoring entries and carried her game to a level only a few can. Stuelke’s 22-point game against Fairleigh shocked the fans as she shot with 100% accuracy in free throws. Then she logged her next 20+ point game against Wisconsin with Iowa taking an 87-65 win over the Badgers. From that game on, she kept delivering a double-digit score, till the Hawkeyes met with Indiana in January.

Her supernatural delivery of 47 points against Penn State single-handedly wiped the Lady Lions off the floor. Which also happens to be the third-most points scored by an Iowa women’s basketball player. Following a couple more 20-point games, her second-round performance spoke in a double-double as she scored 12 points and 11 rebounds against West Virginia and then 11 points and 10 rebounds against Colorado.

In addition, her today’s performance in the Final Four played a pivotal role in getting Iowa a close yet significant victory over UConn, as the Huskies kept the defense strong and limited Clark from making her signature beyond the arc 3s. In the process of it all, Stuelke also broke the school record for free throw attempts. 

According to USA Today, Clark, in the early days of the season, suggested that the potentially atomic Stuelke might break all her records someday. Given her growth in her second season, she might, a few if not all. However, the season did bring some setbacks in Stuelke’s way.

A couple of injuries trying to break Stuelke’s spirit?

On November 24th, Stuelke sustained an injury in her right ankle, during a game against Fort Wayne. Before her injury, she panned out an impressive score of 13 points and 8 rebounds. Followed by which, in Iowa’s matchup against Florida Gulf Coast, Stuelke gave a glimpse of her determination as she stepped on the court with her ankle wrapped. Although she didn’t tally any points, she helped her team grab a 100-62 win against the Eagles.

Similarly, in March Madness’ first round, Hannah Stuelke came down to the locker room as she was not feeling okay because of her migraine, “I wasn’t feeling good at half, just some migraine stuff,” Stuelke said in a backstage interview.

Conclusively, Stuelke has played side by side with Clark and is set to walk on her path as Clark’s departure from Iowa comes closer. Moreover, drawing a comparison between Clark and Stuelke will not be justified to both athletes as they are remarkable players in their own right. However, there is a possibility that Stuelke will be the next big thing among the already outstanding Hawkeyes.

READ MORE: Magic Johnson Takes the Spotlight From Caitlin Clark as Hannah Stuelke Rises With 23-Point Masterclass