5 questions Iowa State women's basketball team still has to answer ahead of 2024-25 season

1. Who will be the starting point guard?

With the departure of Ashley Joens, the Cyclones have a big hole to fill at the point guard position. Brice Calip is the most experienced option, but she has not been a consistent starter in her career.

Other options include Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw and Denae Fritz. Espenmiller-McGraw is a good passer and defender, but she is not as good of a scorer as Calip.

2. Who will be the team's go-to scorer?

Joens was the Cyclones' leading scorer for the past three seasons, so they will need someone to step up and fill that role.

Emily Ryan is a returning starter who is capable of scoring, but she is more of a slasher than a shooter. Nyamer Diew is a talented freshman who could be a factor, but she is still developing her game.

3. How will the team replace its defensive presence?

Joens was also one of the Cyclones' best defenders, so they will need someone to step up and fill that role.

Calip is a good defender, but she is not as good as Joens was. Diew has the potential to be a good defender, but she is still learning the game.

4. How will the team adjust to a new coach?

The Cyclones have a new coach in Charlotte Kloppenburg, who comes to Ames from Creighton.

Kloppenburg is a defensive-minded coach, so the Cyclones can expect to see a change in style of play.

5. What are the team's realistic expectations for the 2024-25 season?

The Cyclones are coming off a disappointing season in which they finished 15-14 and missed the NCAA Tournament.

With the departure of Joens, the Cyclones will likely be picked to finish in the middle of the pack of the Big 12.

Conclusion

The Iowa State women's basketball team has a lot of question marks heading into the 2024-25 season.

Who will be the starting point guard? Who will be the team's go-to scorer? How will the team replace its defensive presence? How will the team adjust to a new coach? What are the team's realistic expectations for the 2024-25 season?

These are all questions that the Cyclones will need to answer before they can start thinking about competing for a Big 12 championship.