With the 2025-26 Iowa women’s college basketball season just a few weeks old and the Hawkeyes off to an impressive start, ESPN has released its latest Women’s College Basketball bracketology forecast with the Hawkeyes taking another slight dip from its initial preseason projection.
Despite the Hawkeyes blowing out each of their opponents while averaging 94.8 points per game through four games via stellar offensive production from Chit-Chat Wright (14.5 ppg), Ava Heiden (14.3 ppg), Layla Hays (13.0 ppg), and Hannah Stuelke (12.0 ppg), ESPN’s Nov. 18 update to their 2026 Women’s College Basketball bracketology projection has shifted the Hawkeyes to the No. 7 seed in the Sacramento (Region 2) quarter. According to the revision, they are predicted to face the No. 10 seed Fairfield from Norman, Oklahoma.
Advertisement
The rest of Iowa’s pod features host Oklahoma, the No. 2 seed, against No. 15 Western Illinois. Here’s a look at the rest of Iowa’s regions and more from the newest ESPN bracketology.
Iowa women’s basketball seeding
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.
Seeding: No. 7 seed in the Sacramento (Region 2) quarter.
A look at Region 2 Sacramento
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.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 St. Bonaventure
No. 8 Stanford vs. No. 9 Kansas.
No. 5 Louisville vs. No. 12 Colorado State
No. 4 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Idaho State
No. 6 Duke vs. No. 11 Murray State
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Stephen F. Austin
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Fairfield
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Western Illinois
Advertisement
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: Oregon, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Kansas
Last Four In: Mississippi State, UNLV, Texas Tech, Belmont
First Four Out: Georgia, Oregon State, George Mason, Illinois
Next Four Out: Florida State, Auburn, Utah, Kansas State
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: 12 (Iowa, UCLA, Nebraska, Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State)
SEC: 9
ACC: 8
Big 12: 7
Atlantic 10: 2
Ivy League: 2
MVC: 2
Mountain West: 2
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 Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball slips in updated ESPN bracketology
