Fans will get their first glimpse of Iowa women’s basketball on Thursday night when the Hawkeyes battle Division II power Ashland in an exhibition. Iowa’s lone exhibition will stream on BTN+ and will tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Then, the Hawkeyes’ regular season begins next Monday, Nov. 3 with their opener against Southern. Like its exhibition on Thursday, Iowa’s regular-season opener will stream on BTN+ and tips off at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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Thanks to a strong close to last season, Iowa earned its 31st all-time NCAA Tournament berth and its seventh consecutive tournament. Mix that success in with a talented group of newcomers and Iowa fans are pretty excited for what the 2025-26 campaign might have in store.
Iowa’s group of newcomers features five-star guard Addie Deal, four-star guard Journey Houston, four-star center Layla Hays and two impact transfers in former UCF wing Emely Rodriguez and former Georgia Tech guard Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright. Rodriguez was named to the Big 12’s All-Freshman Team and Wright started 12 games and had 10 double-figure scoring efforts.
Plus, Iowa returns preseason All-Big Ten Team forward Hannah Stuelke and veteran guards Taylor McCabe and Kylie Feuerbach alongside a rising nucleus of younger talent.
Though Iowa was not voted among the top five in the Big Ten coaches’ preseason rankings, it’s a different story in On3’s preseason Big Ten power rankings. Hawkeye Report’s Kyle Huesmann has Iowa ranked No. 5 in his preseason Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings.
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Huesmann put together an extensive breakdown of the league and on the Hawkeyes, including his pick for Iowa’s top impact addition. Huesmann chose Georgia Tech transfer guard Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright as his impact addition for Iowa.
The Hawkeyes made a couple of additions from the portal, but point guard was the biggest need and they went and got one. Wright was the Yellow Jackets starting point guard down the stretch of her freshman season, averaging 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, including an impressive 2.21 assist-to-turnover ratio and 43 made triples. – Kyle Huesmann, Hawkeye Report of On3.
Here’s a look at Huesmann’s full preseason Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings:
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: On3 shares preseason Iowa women’s basketball Big Ten power rankings
