By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Though she speaks softly and often does so with a sheepish grin when talking about herself, Hannah Stuelke also has a competitive side that embraces a challenge and that is ego driven.

And now as she enters her senior season on the Iowa women’s basketball team, the 6-foot-2 Stuelke faces the daunting expectation of being Iowa’s next star player.

It was thought she might play that role last season until Lucy Olsen transferred from Villanova and then would go on to lead Iowa in scoring while making first-team All-Big Ten.

Stuelke was certainly no slouch last season as she averaged 12.7 points per game and led Iowa in rebounding with a 7.7 average.

But it was Olsen who played the star role as a 5-10 combo guard.

Olsen has since moved on to the WNBA, leaving Stuelke as the team’s most accomplished player, and as the logical choice to be Iowa’s next star player, which at the very least would require making first-team All-Big Ten.

Stuelke has made second-team All-Big Ten in each of the past two seasons.

“Yeah, that’s the next step, first-team All-Big Ten,” Stuelke said Tuesday after practice.

Stuelke is surrounded by a deep and talented supporting cast, but it’s also a young, and in some cases, inexperienced supporting cast that would benefit greatly from having a star player lead the way through the Big Ten’s choppy waters.

Stuelke was reminded on Tuesday that much is riding on her shoulders this coming season, and then she was asked if she welcomes that challenge.

The Cedar Rapids native paused briefly flashed her sheepish grin and then basically said bring it on.

“Yes, of course,” Stuelke said. “I came here for a challenge. I came here to get better.”

The same spotlight that shined on Megan Gustafson as a junior and senior, and on Kathleen Doyle as a senior, and on Caitlin Clark throughout her legendary four-year Hawkeye career, now shines on Stuelke.

The plan is to play Stuelke at power forward almost exclusively, but she would also be an option at center thanks to her versatility.

Wherever Stuelke plays, Iowa head coach Jan Jensen wants her to show the same confidence and assertiveness that Stuelke showed while helping Team USA win the gold medal in the 2025 FIBI Women’s AmeriCup earlier this month.

Jensen also wants Stuelke to show the same vocal leadership that was music to Jensen’s ears during practice on Tuesday, which was open to the media for one hour.

“What I love is we were doing a shooting drill and they were missing some uncontested layups because sometimes they just weren’t as focused,” Jensen said of the Iowa players. “And it was her voice that said, ‘let’s make some layups.’ And she said it with that expectation that I had not heard before.

“So, I was really happy to hear that.”

Iowa hasn’t had to rely on Stuelke to be the leader on or off the court, or to be a vocal leader, because until this season, there was always somebody older who was willing and able to fill that role, most notably Caitlin Clark during Stuelke’s freshman and sophomore seasons.

And while Stuelke missed nearly three weeks of Iowa’s summer workouts while playing for Team USA, she also benefitted from playing against some of the best competition in the world.

Team USA defeated Brazil in the gold medal game as Stuelke played a key role, especially on defense against 6-7 center Kamilla Cardoso.

“I think I’m biased, but her defense is why they won the gold against Cardoso” Jensen said proudly.

Stuelke sort of knew what to expect in guarding Cardoso because they had faced each other in the NCAA Tournament Final Four when Cardoso played for South Carolina.

“I had guarded Camilla before, not that well like I did down there,” Stuelke said. “So that was pretty cool.”

Jensen said Tuesday because of her schedule, which has had Jensen on the road recruiting, she hasn’t had time to speak in depth with Stuelke about the expectations for next season.

“She’s got to make a nice jump” Jensen said when asked how good Stuelke has to perform this coming season for Iowa to reach its potential.

At this time a year ago, Stuelke was hobbled by a knee injury that limited her availability.

But now she feels great physically and is filled with confidence coming off her success with Team USA.

“She’s had a summer, she’s healthy,” Jensen said. “But we lost about three weeks in the Iowa system when she was busy winning the gold medal, which is great because that’s as important, if not more important, mental, given now she’s played with the best in the world. She’s been better than the best in the world.

“What I’m hoping is that type of experience gave her something mentally and internally that can lead a relatively young and inexperienced group. We had new last year, but we had some key people that had been here.”

From a basketball standpoint, Stuelke is working hard this summer to improve her perimeter shot and her passing skills.

She has been a force on the boards, and in transition, since the day she arrived on campus.

But she has scored mostly on layups in transition or on shots near the basket while playing in the post.

However, to play power forward effectively, Stuelke will have to expand her shooting range.

Stuelke expects to play mostly at power forward this season, but she’ll be ready to fill in at center just in case.

“We’ll see. It’s depending on foul trouble,” Stuelke said. “I work on both things, so I just have longer workouts this summer.”

Iowa has two up-and-coming centers on the roster in sophomore Ava Heiden and freshman Layla Hays. How they develop could impact where Stuelke plays on the court.

“I think they’re both really quick on their feet,” Stuelke said. “Layla has been tremendous with her defense. So that’s been really cool to see. They both get up and down (the court) really well. So it’s really exciting that we’ve got two really great (centers).”

Jensen said Stuelke was hesitant at first to tryout for Team USA. But with some encouragement, Stuelke eventually accepted the challenge.

And then it didn’t take long for Stuelke to show in tryouts that she belonged on the team.

“I heard the first day Hannah looked a little tentative,” Jensen said. “But by the second day, the (coaches) felt there was no way they could not pick her. And that made her real happy. She really took that. And that’s the biggest thing for Hannah, I’ve always wanted her to get out of that comfort zone. And sometimes she sets that limitation in her mind, just like unsure or should I?

“And we’ve all seen here when she’ll take over a game, then all the sudden she gets into beast mode. You see that on occasion. What I’ve tried to really work with her on is I just need that, but just your concept level and expectation for yourself and those around you is high. And I’ve got to believe if you win a gold medal and you’re a key reason, that should translate.”

Stuelke said it’s crazy to think that she is heading into her senior season as a Hawkeye.

She has played in two NCAA title games and has been a key contributor since she was a freshman.

“My first two years were so long and incredible, but I think this last year went by really fast,” Stuelke said. “This one coming up, I’m excited for a new journey with a new team.”