Six Questions with Hawkeye Hannah Stuelke

PHOTO: Brian Ray/University of Iowa Athletics Hannah Stuelke (left) embraces Jan Jensen, who is the P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Women's Basketball Coach, during Senior Day on Sunday, Feb. 22. The Hawkeyes beat Michigan, 62-44.

Hannah Stuelke has had a four-year career full of memorable moments—from Big Ten championships to NCAA Tournament title game appearances. The Iowa women’s basketball senior is also hoping the best is yet to come.

We caught up with Stuelke to talk about her time as a Hawkeye and how she is preparing for the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Talk about the past four years with Iowa women’s basketball. What has it meant to be a Hawkeye?

It has meant a lot. I grew up a Hawkeye fan in Cedar Rapids, and it was always my dream to play for Iowa. Being able to accomplish that—with so many great teammates—has been amazing.

I have been fortunate to go around the country and the world with this team.

What have been your favorite memories from your time on the court?

There have been so many, but I think winning the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship stands out for me. That was a lot of fun.

Scoring 47 points against Penn State that same year was pretty cool. Honestly, I do not remember a lot of that game. Sometimes you just go, play, and make shots. After the game, I was like, “Holy crap, I scored 47.” In the moment, you just want to win.

You have played for both Lisa Bluder and Jan Jensen. What have you learned from each of them?

I love Coach Lisa Bluder. She is amazing. During my journey, she really poured so much confidence into me.

I was sad when she retired, but Coach Jan Jensen has stepped up in a big way. I have learned and grown so much because of them. They have a lot of the same qualities and coached together for so long, so it has been a seamless transition.

You have played alongside some tremendous teammates. What did you learn specifically from Caitlin Clark (24BBA)?

Caitlin also poured a lot of confidence into me. She always believed in me—more than anyone. That was really cool.

Her work ethic is unmatched. She is absolutely crazy about basketball. She really showed me what it takes to be great.

How have you grown during your time at Iowa?

I think I have just gotten progressively better—growing and learning in every aspect of the game and staying tenacious, no matter what. I have really tried to not let a bad game or bad shot affect how I am playing.

Control what I can control. I have gotten better at that.

You are going to take part in the 2026 WNBA Draft. What do you hope to bring to a future team?

Once our postseason is over, I am going to work with a trainer and tune up my skills. Resting my body will be important.

I am excited to see where I land in the WNBA Draft. I think my athleticism will carry me far, as well as my ability to rebound and defend in the post. There are so many amazing scorers in the league, but everyone needs someone who can rebound and defend.