Lisa Bluder was one of the top names in the NCAA for the last two years for her run with the Iowa sensation Caitlin Clark. Long before that too, she has been dominant in her coaching career, but her nomination to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has become a heated affair among fans and analysts. After 24 years as Iowa’s head coach, Bluder retired after last season, saying goodbyes to an impressive legacy. But many question whether she’s earned enough to be in the Hall of Fame.

Bluder joins other first-time nominees, including NBA great Carmelo Anthony, WNBA legend Sue Bird, and 8x NBA All-Star Dwight Howard. The list of the finalists is going to be announced on February 14, 2025, during the All-Star Weekend; the official Class of 2025 is going to be introduced on April 5, 2025, during the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio.

Her coaching journey started at St. Ambrose, where she left a 169-36 mark in six years. She took St. Ambrose to NAIA Fab Four classes of 1989 and 1990. At Drake University, she continued to rack up success winning four MVC tournament titles and three conference crowns.

On the international stage, she also got some accolades. She led the U.S. women’s basketball team to a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. Multiple Hall of Fame inductions include UNI Athletics, Des Moines Register, and Quad City Times Halls of Fame. All this glory and yet the fans are not sure.

Lisa Bluder: Worthy or overrated? Fans weigh in

Though the 63-year-old has accomplished much, not everyone believes she should be placed in the Hall of Fame. After her nomination, social media went nuts, as fans split into different camps. “No disrespect, but Lisa Bluder is not a Hall of Famer,” tweeted one X user, sparking widespread debate. Some chimed in, agreeing with others who fiercely defended Bluder’s legacy. 

One argued, “Jeff Walz has done more than Lisa Bluder.” Meanwhile, another countered, “She sits 11th on all-time wins, made two Final Fours, and is the winningest coach in Big Ten history. Educate yourself.”  Having reached 528 wins over her eight seasons as Iowa’s coach, Bluder leaves with the most of any coach in school history. Her overall career record of 884-396 is 10th on the NCAA record list.

Bluder’s critics noted that her best accomplishments came with Caitlin Clark, one of the greatest players of this era, which motivated accusations that she wasn’t the cause of them.

One X user stated, “The same thing could be said about an elite coach before they got to there school but they built there schools into elite programs. If Caitlin Clark never comes we’re not even having this conversation. She is a phenomenal coach but she is not a hall of fame.” 

The discussion continued as one more basketball follower noted, “She built a winning program at one of the most difficult schools to recruit. And she did it while having very few 4 & 5-star recruits. That means she did an incredible job with player development and culture. That is as impressive as winning several titles at an elite program.”

The head coach turned Iowa into one of the premier women’s college basketball programs. She guided the Hawkeyes to two Big Ten regular-season titles and five Big Ten Tournament crowns. This includes consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament Finals in 2023 and 2024. Bluder has been the Big Ten Coach of the Year three times and was the 2019 Naismith College Coach of the Year.

Bluder’s longevity and consistency were defended by many fans. Bluder has championships and awards all over her resume and has proven to be a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame.

As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: You cannot ignore Lisa Bluder’s impact on women’s college basketball. Whether that translates to Hall of Fame recognition remains to be seen when the Class of 2025 is announced.