It’s just about one month until the Iowa women’s basketball team returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to start its 2025-26 season.
Hopes and expectations are high for the Hawkeyes as they enter year two of the Jan Jensen era. It was an up-and-down first year under Jensen, as Iowa went 23-10 overall and lost to Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes struggled at times to fill the production left by an outstanding senior class led by Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, and Gabbie Marshall.
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This year’s iteration of the Hawkeyes seems to have the right mix of veterans and fresh faces needed to have a great year. Iowa is led by seniors Hannah Stuelke, Taylor McCabe, and Kylie Feuerbach, but the majority of the roster is made up of exciting youngsters. Five-star freshman Addie Deal will grab a lot of the headlines, but don’t sleep on fellow freshmen Layla Hays and Journey Houston this season.
That intriguing mix of veterans and young faces is a big reason why the Hawkeyes are in the field in ESPN’s newest 2026 NCAA Tournament bracketology. Iowa is the No. 5 seed in Region 1, Fort Worth, in the latest bracketology prediction from ESPN. They’re facing the 12th-seeded Belmont Bruins in the first round.
The rest of Iowa’s pod features a host and four-seed Louisville matchup with 13th-seeded James Madison. Here’s a look at the rest of Iowa’s regions and more from the newest ESPN bracketology.
Iowa women’s basketball seeding
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen huddles with her team during a women’s basketball practice July 22, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Seeding: No. 5 seed in Region 1 Fort Worth
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A look at Region 1 Fort Worth
Iowa guard Callie Levin drives toward the basket defended by Emely Rodriguez during a women’s basketball practice July 22, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
No. 1 UCONN vs No. 16 Texas Southern/Fairleigh Dickinson
No. 8 Miami vs No. 9 Nebraska
No. 5 Iowa vs No. 12 Belmont
No. 4 Louisville vs No. 13 James Madison
No. 6 Vanderbilt vs No. 11 Columbia/George Mason
No. 3 Maryland vs No. 14 Chattanooga
No. 7 Princeton vs No. 10 SMU
No. 2 Tennessee vs No. 15 Maine
No. 1 seeds
Apr 6, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; UConn Huskies mascot Jonathan the Husky and cheerleaders pose after the national championship of the women’s 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Top Overall Seed: UCONN
Other No. 1 Seeds: South Carolina, Texas, UCLA
On the bubble
Iowa’s Kylie Feuerbach passes the ball during a women’s basketball practice July 1, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Last Four Byes: Florida State, SMU, Villanova, Georgia
Last Four In: Virginia Tech, Illinois, George Mason, Columbia
First Four Out: Colorado, Marquette, Florida, Kansas State
Next Four Out: Utah, Missouri, Seton Hall, UNLV
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Conference bids breakdown
Aug 9, 2025; A detail view of a logo for the Big Ten Conference is seen during the Hawkeyes Kids Day NCAA football open practice at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Cress for the Des Moines Register
Big Ten: 13 (Iowa, UCLA, Nebraska, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State)
ACC: 11
SEC: 9
Big 12: 5
Big East: 2
Atlantic 10: 2
Ivy League: 2
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ESPN shares updated Iowa women’s basketball 2026 bracketology outlook
