With most of the basketball world focused on Caitlin Clark and the tip-off of the WNBA this week, Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder shocked everyone on Monday.

In news that will no doubt shock most Iowa Hawkeye fans, head coach Lisa Bluder announced her retirement on Monday afternoon. The 63-year-old head Hawkeye led Iowa to back-to-back Final Four appearances in one of the best periods in the history of Iowa women's basketball.

Bluder began her coaching career at St. Ambrose University before moving on to Drake University in Des Moines. She left the Bulldogs for Iowa City and the Hawkeyes in April of 2000. Under Bluder, the Hawkeyes have won five Big Ten Tournaments and won the Big Ten regular season title twice.

Bluder was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001, 2008, and 2010. She was named the Naismith Coach of the Year in 2019. It appears that Bluder's replacement has also been named. Longtime assistant Jan Jensen will now lead the Iowa women.

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Our Favorite Photos From Iowa's Run to the NCAA Championship Game

The 2022-23 Iowa women's basketball season started on November 7 and concluded in the NCAA Championship Game against LSU on Sunday, April 2. Iowa went 31-7 and will be remembered forever for their five NCAA Tournament wins. Here are our favorite photos from the tournament.

Gallery Credit: Getty Images

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