The Iowa women’s basketball team is facing significant challenges this season, struggling without key players Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin.

Coach Jan Jensen has emphasized the importance of patience as the team works to define its identity and develop the chemistry needed for success.

Although the team’s current record stands at 12-4, they have encountered difficulties in the highly competitive Big Ten conference, where every game is a test of resilience.

The absence of Clark and Martin has left a notable gap, and Coach Jensen has pointed out that the leadership of senior players will be vital in guiding younger teammates through this tough stretch.

Developing a winning combination is essential for the Hawkeyes to perform well in both regular-season games and the NCAA tournament, should they qualify.

The challenges are compounded by the pressure to compete against some of the nation’s top teams in the Big Ten, making each match even more crucial.

Despite these obstacles, there is a sense of optimism within the program.

The team remains focused on improving and adjusting to the absence of key players, with hopes of making a strong push toward the NCAA tournament.

While the road ahead is difficult, the commitment to growth and teamwork continues to drive the Hawkeyes.

If they can overcome these early-season hurdles, they could still prove to be a formidable contender in the postseason, where every game is an opportunity to prove their strength and determination.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is part of the ownership group trying to bring an NWSL expansion team to Cincinnati.

Cincinnati is one of a handful of finalists bidding for an NWSL expansion team that is expected to be awarded before the end of the year.

The team would begin play in 2026, joining a previously announced expansion team in Boston to bring the NWSL to 16 teams.

“The NWSL Cincinnati bid team is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our ownership group in pursuit of bringing a women’s professional soccer team to our city,” the NWSL Cincinnati bid team said in a statement to ESPN.

“Her passion for the sport, commitment to elevating women’s sports in and around the Greater Cincinnati region, and influence as an athlete and role model for women and girls around the world, make her a vital part of our compelling bid to become the 16th team in the NWSL.”

Clark was selected first in the WNBA draft this year by the Fever after breaking the NCAA scoring record at the University of Iowa. She won WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2024 and became the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Team.

The ownership group of MLS team FC Cincinnati is leading the bid. Also in contention are groups from Cleveland, Denver, Nashville and Philadelphia. Cincinnati is considered one of the favorites in the process because of its ownership backing and existing infrastructure, sources told ESPN, with a stadium already purpose-built for soccer.

Cleveland, Denver and Philadelphia all hope to build stadiums and play in temporary venues upon launching in 2026 if their bid is accepted, multiple sources said.

The group in Cleveland, which multiple sources also consider to have a strong bid, recently announced that it acquired the downtown land on which it intends to build a stadium.

Multiple sources said the expansion fee for the 16th NWSL team could approach $100 million. Boston and Bay FC, which began play this year, each paid $53 million to enter the league after being selected in 2023.

The most recent process started earlier this year with about a dozen serious inquiries in the first stage of bidding.