The culture of the Iowa women’s basketball program is widely regarded as one of the best in the country.
You don’t have the sustained success that this program has had recently without a strong culture. From the coaching staff to the athletic trainers to the players, the Hawkeyes feel like a family. And it’s that culture and family dynamic that helps the team through rough patches and stretches of the season.
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It’s always fun to get a peek behind the scenes of that culture, and the women’s basketball team gave fans just that on Friday when they mic’d up another talented freshman. Earlier this offseason, they mic’d up Addie Deal, who was super entertaining. And now they’ve mic’d up Layla Hays, another freshman making big waves this offseason.
Hays is a four-star recruit out of Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Arkansas. She was the 65th-best prospect in the entire nation in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports. A 6-foot-4 center, Hays could have the chance to make an immediate impact this season off the bench, joining fellow freshman phenom Addie Deal.
The Iowa women’s basketball team is deep, with plenty of players who understand their roles. Throw in a great coach in Jan Jensen and one of the best home court advantages in the sport, and things are shaping up to be a special season for the Hawkeyes.
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But it all starts with the culture. A culture that is shown through these mic’d up moments and other peeks behind the curtain. This women’s basketball team cares about each other, and that bond is a big reason why they could make a run in the 2025-26 season.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball mics up talented freshman during camp
