The WNBA draft is just hours away, and the excitement is off the charts! It’s not just Dallas Wings fans eager to see Paige Bueckers join their team–fans from other franchises are also on the edge of their seats. Apart from Bueckers, players like Aneesah Morrow, Kiki Iriafen, Hailey Van Lith, and Dominique Malonga are also up for grabs. And let’s not forget the buzz around the “next Caitlin Clark” potentially joining the Fever. Yes, Iowa’s Lucy Olsen might be getting drafted to the Indiana Fever!

Lucy Olsen had some massive shoes to fill when she stepped in as the point guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes last season. Replacing a cultural icon like Clark was never going to be an easy job. The spotlight was on her. The pressure? Enormous. But she held her own. Olsen dropped 17.9 points, grabbed 3.6 rebounds and dished out 5.1 assists per game. She even finished as the third-highest scorer in Division 1.

Stat-wise, she stacked up well next to someone like Hailey Van Lith from TCU. Still, she didn’t get an invite to attend the WNBA Draft. This suggests that she might very well be on her way to getting drafted in the second round. Now, why is that interesting? Because the Indiana Fever own the 19th, 20th, and 33rd picks.

Tankathon, the popular draft lottery site, currently projects Lucy Olsen to go 21st overall to the Los Angeles Sparks. This all but confirms that Olsen could very well be a second-round pick, and the news has certainly delighted Fever fans. They took to social media to showcase their happiness, and made their priorities known ahead of the draft! Let’s take a look at the demands!

Indiana fans want the “next Caitlin Clark” to join them

Heading into the draft, Fever fans aren’t asking for much. The team’s already stacked. A solid roster. A real shot at a deep playoff run. But with three picks in the draft, the fanbase made one thing crystal clear. They’ve got their eyes on someone, and they’re not shy about it.

“Lucy Olsen please,” wrote one fan, making their pick loud and clear. They weren’t alone. The comments kept rolling in. Another added, “Lucy is the best pick for the Fever. I really like her game—plssss pick her!!!” There’s a lot to love about Lucy Olsen. She took Iowa to the second round–something many thought was out of reach after the departures of Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, and not to mention their head coach as well!

Still, Olsen showed up. She had thirteen 20+ point games, all without a dominant big to help space the floor like Van Lith did with Sedona Prince. Her mid-range game? Arguably one of the best in the country right now. No matter where she lands, she’s definitely one to watch. Fans also wanted another player along with Lucy. It was none other than HVL! “Would love to see @lucy3olsen & @haileyvanlith play for the fever,” said one fan. Another joined in, saying, “Already have solid team but adding a few more wont hurt…goooo fevuhhh.” However, it still looks unlikely.

Hailey Van Lith had a stellar year, averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists- numbers similar to Olsen’s. But here’s the difference. She helped take TCU to heights they’d never seen before- winning both the Big 12 regular season title and the tournament. And let’s not forget their Cinderella run in March Madness. All of this has her stock rising fast. She’s projected to be a first-round pick, which the Fever don’t possess. She was also one of the 16 to get invited to the draft, unlike Lucy.

But here’s the thing– does the Fever even need Lucy or Hailey right now? Their current roster is stacked. And one fan wasted no time in pointing that out. They said, “Everyone calling for Lucy…will you be OK when she gets waived? Because that is the likely fate of anyone we pick. Better to wish her a landing spot with a better chance to make the team if you’re a fan of hers!”

If Lucy Olsen gets the chance to link up with Caitlin Clark and co, the road ahead won’t be easy. The Fever already made big moves in free agency- adding names like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham. That’s not all. They also have Jaelyn Brown and Jillian Alleyne signed to training camp contracts. Both bring W experience and know what it takes to make a roster.

But things get even tougher for Olsen. Indiana likely has cap space for just one more player. So what does that mean? Any rookie stepping in has to fight for that lone spot. Not just against other rookies, but also against veterans already on training camp deals. And let’s be real. History hasn’t exactly favored rookies in these situations.

It would make a lot more sense for Lucy Olsen to land with the Golden State Valkyries instead. They hold the 17th pick in the draft. Linking up with Kate Martin, a former Iowa alum and one of Caitlin Clark’s closest friends could be huge. Hawkeyes fans would definitely be excited about that! Plus, this move could make the Valkyries an even bigger talking point as the season unfolds.

Only time will tell where Olsen will end up, but early signs suggest that teaming up with Caitlin Clark might not be the best move for her career. Stay tuned for more updates as the W Draft approaches!