The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball program is gearing up for another season and will play Southern on Monday night.
It’s their second year since star Caitlin Clark left for the WNBA and since longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retired.
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Bluder was the coach since the 2000-01 season and led the Hawkeyes to two Final Fours, five Big Ten tournament titles and two Big Ten regular season titles.
Jan Jensen has since taken over the program and went 23-11 last season. Jensen was Bluder’s associate coach since Bluder got to Iowa and earned a promotion.
Bluder took to the year off, and while she isn’t returning to coaching, she’s returning to the game.
Former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder, left, poses for a photo with former Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22).© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
On Friday, NBC announced Bluder will join the broadcast team for this upcoming season as a women’s basketball college countdown studio analyst.
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Bluder will not only cover the Big Ten, but she’ll also cover the Big 12 and the Big East.
Bluder is now 64 and still has a lot to give to the game of college basketball. Prior to Bluder’s time at Iowa, she was the coach at Drake for 10 seasons.
This upcoming season will be the first time NBC covers the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 all together.
Related: Kate Martin Makes Caitlin Clark Decision After Second WNBA Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
