The last time these two got together, Iowa women’s basketball punched its ticket back to the national championship game with a thrilling 71-69 victory over UConn in the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Caitlin Clark scored 21 points in that contest, but it was forward Hannah Stuelke that authored the game-high 23 points against the Huskies.
Advertisement
Now, as the two teams ready to face one another on Saturday in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., the Hawkeyes will look to knock off the defending national champion.
UConn (9-0) is still undefeated and will enter as the nation’s top-ranked team. The Hawkeyes bring the No. 12 national ranking into Saturday’s battle.
With two powerhouse programs squaring off, all eyes will be on The Big Apple. Sports Illustrated featured the matchup among its top Week 7 games.
The Hawkeyes stumbled for the first time this year against their in-state rival, losing 74–69 against Iowa State as Audi Crooks went off for 30 points. Forwards Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden shot a combined 9-for-21 from the floor, and Heiden found herself in foul trouble. If Iowa is angling for an upset, that can’t happen against UConn, which has Sarah Strong and a battery of forwards to send at Iowa’s backcourt. This past weekend, UConn held a 69–39 lead against USC heading into the fourth quarter and trounced the Trojans. Good luck, Iowa. – Dan Falkenheim, Sports Illustrated.
It’s always going to be a major challenge meeting up with UConn and this edition is sure to be no different. A win would do wonders for Iowa’s NET ranking and future NCAA Tournament standing.
Advertisement
Before meeting in the Final Four in 2024, Iowa met UConn in the Phil Knight Legacy Championship the season before on Nov. 27, 2022. The Huskies won that contest, 86-79, as Azzi Fudd scored 24 points. Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin scored 25 and 20 points, respectively, in that Phil Knight meeting.
The Hawkeyes trail the all-time series against UConn, 6-4.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball vs. UConn among SI Week 7 best games to watch
