"We're all pretty unique players", talented Iowa freshman settling in to summer workouts

The Iowa Women’s Basketball team has been fortunate to have had several veteran led teams over the last couple of years. The Hawkeyes had the same starting five for three straight seasons from 2020-22, while Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall started together for four straight seasons.

The recent seasoned starting lineups and overall team experience have posed challenges for the younger Hawkeyes seeking rotation spots in recent years. In fact, Hannah Stuelke is the only freshman to average over 10.0 minutes per game in the last five seasons. Not since the 2018-19 season have multiple freshmen averaged double-digit minutes per game (Gabbie Marshall and McKenna Warnock). This year’s freshman class boasts four players that ranked in the ESPN Top 100 and they’re eager to make an impact in year one.

“There’s definitely potential for that. We’re seeing a lot of great things out of them,” said assistant coach Abby Stamp. “They’re learning a lot, the big thing for us is going to be keeping this (freshman) class from overthinking, allowing them to keep their confidence and play hard, play through mistakes.”

“I think we’re all pretty unique players and I think that’s exciting,” said Taylor Stremlow. “Just to see all of the little unique things about each of us, not only on the court, but off the court. We all mesh really well and really care for each other, so I think that’ll reflect itself on the court where we can make some good plays, celebrate each other and bring that energy.”

One of the freshman that seems to be inching closer and closer to earning serious minutes for the Hawkeyes this season is forward Teagan Mallegni (McFarland, WI). Ranked as a four-star, #64 player in the ’24 recruiting class, Mallegni, a two-time Rock Valley Player of the Year and two-time All-State selection, averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game for the Spartans. When watching her during practice, it’s clear that Teagan’s game is more advanced that a normal incoming freshman. Her play on the court has drawn comparisons to Madison area native and former Hawkeye McKenna Warnock.

“Teagan is going to gives us some good quality minutes,” said assistant coach Abby Stamp. “She’s got the same type of competitive spirit that you would see from McKenna. (Teagan) played that way in AAU, just never backed down from anybody.”

“There’s a lot of new things being put in and that’s been super cool. I haven’t had opportunities to learn new things in a while, so it’s been really nice to have the opportunity to learn a new offense and learn to play with my teammates,” said Mallegni after practice on Tuesday. “With my individual group, the threes and fours, they’ve just really helped me and talked me through everything and it’s been so great.”

At the center position, Ava Heiden (Sherwood, OR) is currently in a battle with Addi O’Grady and AJ Ediger, not only for minutes in the rotation, but a spot in the starting lineup. Ranked as a four-star, #36 player in the ’24 recruiting class, Heiden is rated higher than former Iowa starting centers Megan Gustafson (#80), Monika Czinano (NR) and Bethany Doolittle (NR). With one of the best post coaches in the country, Jan Jensen teaching her, the sky is the limit for her. The first thing that stands out when you see her play is her quick decisions when she catches the ball in the post. That’s a key attribute of a Jan Jensen coached center and Heiden already possesses that skill.

“(Coach Jan) has been amazing. She’s so positive and is teaching me all that I need to know. There’s a lot and she knows that there’s going to be a learning curve. She’s been helping me along that process and building me up to where I need to be,” said Heiden on Tuesday morning. “It’s been a little bit overwhelming trying to figure out what I need to do and how I can work with the team, but everyone here has been so helpful getting me up to speed and teaching me things, especially AJ and Addi. They’ve done a great job.”

“I really like running the floor as a post. I kind of pride myself in running. My old club coach, she always drilled that into me, so that’s something I like to do. The mid-range game, those shots, I like that and then finishing hard around the rim and then I love rebounding.”

At guard the position, Taylor Stremlow (Verona, WI) is trying to earn a spot in the rotation and there is an opportunity available at backup point guard. Ranked as a four-star, #88 player by ESPN in the ’24 recruiting class, her ball handling and elite passing skills make her a viable candidate for some floor minutes as a freshman. As a senior at Verona High School, Taylor averaged 18.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 5.7 steals for a Wildcats team that finished with a 26-1 record. Stremlow says that she has already seen some growth from herself through one month of practices.

“I feel like my energy has always been there, but I’ve been more confident with what I’m cheering for, encouraging (teammates) or telling them where to be if I know where I’m supposed to be…Just stacking the growth, the learning, the days, the practices, I think we’ve really grown since the first practice,” said Stremlow. “It’s been fun. A lot of learning adjustments. Everybody comes from a different system and just trying to mesh with what our goal is, our system is and turning that into an automatic thing, instead of thinking about it has been the challenge.”

“Taylor is such a high IQ player. She reminds us a lot of Syd and Kate with just the way she can make things happen on the floor,” said assistant coach Abby Stamp. “Sometimes a player like that, you don’t necessarily get to see everything that she’s going to bring in this type of setting where we’re breaking into drills doing a lot of teaching…Taylor’s a playmaker. The way that she can pass the ball, she plays off two feet, always has great balance, she’s somebody that our fans are really going to love.”

It has been a while since the Hawkeyes have had multiple freshman step up and make an impact right away as freshman. However, this class, with the talent that they possess, have the ability to be instant contributors this season. If Iowa wants to continue their winning ways both in Big Ten play and in the NCAA Tournament, the coaching staff will need a couple of freshman to be dependable off the bench in their first season on campus.