Kate Martin’s exit was already settled, and Sharon Goodman said she would also go from the Iowa women’s basketball team shortly after Caitlin Clark made her 2024 WNBA Draft announcement, leaving the Hawkeyes with voids to fill next year

Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark will be followed out of the program by fellow Hawkeyes players Kate Martin and Sharon Goodman after this season.

Martin and Goodman spoke publicly on Friday afternoon ahead of Senior Day, with the latter player confirming she would forgo the option to return for 2024-25.

Martin is Iowa’s third-leading scorer at 13 points per game, while Goodman has provided value off the bench with 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.

Martin will attempt to play professionally like Clark. Goodman will attend nursing school.

This week’s revelations will have a significant impact on next year’s Iowa squad, which may now take a step back from national title contention with its greatest-ever player gone and at least two co-stars leaving.

During her media availability Friday, Martin said she wanted to one day become a coach, following in the footsteps of Hawkeyes instructor Lisa Bluder. “She’s just taught me so much, and so hopefully I can be half of good of a coach as her one day.”

Later, Bluder responded: “That means a lot to me for her to say that. I think Kate’s gonna be such a good coach, she’s such a great young woman, and she embraces our values like no other.”

Iowa still expects to return star forward Hannah Stuelke next season, and the program will also welcome four top-100 recruits.

Stuelke has shown signs that she can become a go-to bucket-getter, scoring 47 points against Penn State on Feb. 8. The second-year player has averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds for the season.

But players across the board will need to step up and play beyond expectations for the Hawkeyes to contend at the very top of the talented Big Ten in 2024-25.

Even so, Bluder and her squad are not dwelling on potential future issues or the burden that will be placed on those who return.

They have major ambitions to chase this season, in the here and now, with the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament around the corner.

“Obviously, my focus is here,” Clark told reporters on Friday via Hawk Central.

“My goal is to win a national title. Plain and simple, that’s what I want to do. To be honest, I’m not really looking that far ahead into the WNBA and what’s going to happen when.”

Clark added: “All of that will pan out whenever our season ends and that’s hopefully with a national title.

That’s my main focus, and I think having this decision done will allow me to play my best basketball. And that’s honestly my main priority. I think that’s what led me to announce it when did.”