With two impressive wins over Oregon (74-66) and then-No. 14 Michigan State (75-68) last week, Iowa women’s basketball (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten) was awarded its highest ranking of the season in the latest USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.
In Tuesday’s update, the Hawkeyes rose three spots to reach No. 10 nationally.
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A major reason for the Hawkeyes’ rise in the polls is thanks to the phenomenal efforts from senior forward Hannah Stuelke and sophomore center Ava Heiden, and the breakout of freshman guard Addie Deal during the past week.
Iowa guard Chit-Chat Wright (11), Iowa guard Addie Deal (7), and Iowa guard Kylie Feuerbach (4) react after Deal made a basket near the end of the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans on Jan. 18, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Deal recorded a career-high 18 points against the Ducks on Jan. 15, shooting 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-4 from 3-point range. The Irvine, Calif., native added eight points on 3-for-4 shooting and 2-of-2 from 3-point range against Michigan State.
Deal’s performances earned her Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, becoming the first Hawkeye to win the award since former Hawkeye center Addison O’Grady was recognized on Jan. 3, 2022. Meanwhile, Stuelke and Heiden combined to average 36.5 points and 16.0 rebounds during Iowa’s two wins last week.
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Stuelke earned the Big Ten Player of the Week award. Iowa’s Lucy Olsen was the last Hawkeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 3, 2025.
The nation’s top-ranked team remains UConn, with South Carolina at No. 2. In the Big Ten, Iowa is joined in the rankings by No. 3 UCLA, No. 7 Michigan, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 13 Maryland, No. 15 Michigan State, and No. 25 Washington.
Nebraska (25 points), Illinois (13 points), Minnesota (2 points), and USC (1 point) are all receiving votes.
Here’s a look at the full USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll:
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
PTS |
1st |
Prev |
Chg |
Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
19-0 |
775 |
31 |
1 |
– |
1/1 |
|
|
2 |
19-1 |
739 |
0 |
2 |
– |
2/3 |
|
|
3 |
17-1 |
714 |
0 |
3 |
– |
3/4 |
|
|
4 |
19-0 |
661 |
0 |
5 |
+1 |
4/21 |
|
|
5 |
19-2 |
659 |
0 |
4 |
-1 |
2/5 |
|
|
6 |
17-2 |
628 |
0 |
6 |
– |
5/12 |
|
|
7 |
15-3 |
544 |
0 |
7 |
– |
7/15 |
|
|
7 |
18-3 |
544 |
0 |
10 |
+3 |
7/22 |
|
|
9 |
18-2 |
500 |
0 |
8 |
-1 |
7/12 |
|
|
10 |
16-2 |
493 |
0 |
13 |
+3 |
10/23 |
|
|
11 |
17-2 |
459 |
0 |
15 |
+4 |
11/NR |
|
|
12 |
17-3 |
442 |
0 |
9 |
-3 |
7/20 |
|
|
13 |
17-3 |
385 |
0 |
11 |
-2 |
6/13 |
|
|
14 |
17-3 |
356 |
0 |
17 |
+3 |
10/21 |
|
|
15 |
17-2 |
340 |
0 |
14 |
-1 |
14/NR |
|
|
16 |
14-4 |
335 |
0 |
12 |
-4 |
5/16 |
|
|
17 |
13-3 |
306 |
0 |
20 |
+3 |
9/22 |
|
|
18 |
16-4 |
225 |
0 |
16 |
-2 |
13/18 |
|
|
19 |
19-1 |
215 |
0 |
18 |
-1 |
18/NR |
|
|
20 |
16-1 |
153 |
0 |
24 |
+4 |
20/NR |
|
|
21 |
15-5 |
128 |
0 |
23 |
+2 |
8/23 |
|
|
22 |
15-4 |
94 |
0 |
25 |
+3 |
20/NR |
|
|
23 |
17-3 |
82 |
0 |
21 |
-2 |
21/NR |
|
|
24 |
14-5 |
58 |
0 |
19 |
-5 |
10/24 |
|
|
25 |
14-4 |
51 |
0 |
NR |
+4 |
22/NR |
Schools Dropped Out
No. 22 Notre Dame;
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Others Receiving Votes
Notre Dame 45; Duke 43; Oklahoma State 26; Nebraska 25; Illinois 13; Georgia 12; Arizona State 8; Mississippi State 6; Virginia 4; Rhode Island 4; Minnesota 2; USC 1;
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball earns highest Coaches Poll ranking of season
