Following Iowa women’s college basketball (6-0) continuing their impressive start with wins over then-No. 10 Baylor and Miami to capture the WBCA Showcase in Orlando, Fla., ESPN’s latest Women’s College Basketball bracketology forecast has the Hawkeyes back in a very favorable seeding.
Ava Heiden was the most impactful player in the two-game WBCA Showcase, recording a team-high 18 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line against Baylor, and 20 points and six rebounds on 9-for-11 shooting from the field against Miami. As a result, Heiden was also named both the Big Ten Player of the Week and USBWA National Player of the Week
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With Iowa’s excellent play, ESPN’s Nov. 25 update to their 2026 Women’s College Basketball bracketology projection has boosted the Hawkeyes to the No. 4 seed in the Sacramento (Region 4) quarter.
According to the revision, they are predicted to serve as the host of their four-team pod and open the tournament by facing the No. 13 seed Illinois State. The rest of Iowa’s pod features No. 5 seed Baylor taking on No. 12 Green Bay.
Here’s a look at the rest of Iowa’s regions and more from the newest ESPN bracketology.
Iowa women’s basketball seeding
Iowa guard Taylor Stremlow (1) reacts during a basketball game against the Drake Bulldogs Nov. 13, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Seeding: No. 4 seed in the Sacramento (Region 4) quarter.
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A look at Region 4 Sacramento
Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke (45) high-fives teammates after being announced in the starting lineup against the Evansville Purple Aces Nov. 9, 2025, during a women’s basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Bryant
No. 8 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Dakota State
No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 12 Green Bay
No. 4 Iowa vs. No. 13 Illinois State
No. 6 Oklahoma State vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech or Colorado
No. 3 North Carolina vs. No. 14 High Point
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Texas Tech
No. 2 LSU vs. No. 15 Southern Mississippi
Projected No. 1 seeds
STORRS, CONNECTICUT – NOVEMBER 09: The Connecticut Huskies watch their championship banner unveiling before an NCAA women’s basketball game against the Florida State Seminoles at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on November 09, 2025 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Top Overall Seed: UConn
Other No. 1 Seeds: South Carolina, Texas, UCLA
On the bubble
Iowa guard Chit-Chat Wright (11) drives to the basket Nov. 9, 2025 during a women’s basketball game against the Evansville Purple Aces at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Last Four Byes: Kansas, California, Minnesota, Illinois
Last Four In: Florida, Virginia, Colorado, Virginia Tech
First Four Out: Miami, George Mason, Auburn, Columbia
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Next Four Out: Marquette, Georgia, Missouri, BYU
Conference bids breakdown
Oct 8, 2025; Rosemont, Illinois, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo is seen during Big Ten Basketball Media Days at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images
Big Ten: 13 (Iowa, UCLA, Nebraska, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State)
SEC: 11
ACC: 9
Big 12: 8
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball rises in updated ESPN bracketology
