The Ohio State and Iowa women’s basketball teams have met on the basketball court since 1983. While not nearly as long as the histories of their men’s counterparts, it is a rivalry that dates further back than most Big Ten schools’ commitment to women’s sports. In recent years, the matchup featured two teams near the top of the conference that leveraged experienced stars to battle for conference championships. Now, in 2026, Iowa and Ohio State are the top 12 teams in the nation and are surprising people with teams of successful young players, mixed with key upperclassmen.
Ohio State avoids the snowstorm with a trip to Iowa for a Sunday afternoon matchup. Before the two sides play, Land-Grant Holy Land reached out to The Daily Iowan to ask some questions about this season’s edition of Hawkeyes basketball. Sports editor Matt McGowan shared more about the inside standout tandem, Iowa’s resiliency, and the state of the rivalry.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Iowa is one of only two teams still undefeated in conference play, and the Hawkeyes have had battles to get to that point. What makes them such a resilient side?
Advertisement
The Daily Iowan: Perhaps the most resilient I’ve seen the Hawkeyes this year was when they erased a 16-point halftime deficit against Indiana on the road. After the first half, I had no doubt they would come back. Then again, I also look at the contest in College Park, when Iowa blew a late 17-point lead to Maryland but still won in overtime. Those juxtaposed road games, both ending in victories is a product of the team’s veteran leadership.
The starting lineup features three seniors in forward Hannah Stuelke guards Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe. While Stuelke is the one who’s most noticeable on the stat sheet, Feuerbach is the team’s best defender, and McCabe stretches a defense as a three-point shooting threat. Plus, while head coach Jan Jensen is only a second-year head coach, she’s been on the staff for 26 years. Her players are more than comfortable with her, and she fosters such an uplifting culture centered around belief. In every postgame press conference with Jensen, there’s no lingering stress or agitation. Her poise has rubbed off on this team.
LGHL: Last season, head coach Jan Jensen tried to move Hannah Stuelke from a No. 5 role to more of a hybrid forward, and the results were mixed. This season, what is Stuelke’s role for the Hawkeyes?
DI: With Ava Heiden in the traditional center role and freshman center Layla Hays playing the No. 5 off the bench, Stuelke’s responsibilities are again more of a forward. She’ll inbound the ball from behind the basket and doesn’t have to guard the opposition’s tallest player. While she’s still averse to the three-pointer, taking just nine attempts this season, her midrange game has improved. I specifically recall an impressive fadeaway jumper in the corner against Michigan State.
Advertisement
Stuelke’s 53 percent mark from the floor this season is up from 49 percent last season, and while it’s not a career-high, she’s achieved career-bests this year in points (14.1), rebounds (8.6), and assists (2.9) per game. She’s not afraid to post up against a smaller defender, but is more comfortable operating outside of the paint as a distributor and shot-maker.
LGHL: Next to Stuelke is center Ava Heiden. The sophomore went from a barely used freshman to the highest scorer for Iowa. How does Heiden hurt teams inside?
DI: Heiden’s footwork in the post is elite. She places herself in an advantageous position on the block and is more efficient with her moves. Back in high school in Sherwood, Oregon, she relied on a spin move, which in collegiate competition takes too long and is easy to steal.
This year, she seals her defender off to one side, receives the entry pass, and has a wide-open lane to the rim. While her midrange game isn’t on the level of Stuelke’s, Heiden isn’t afraid to take an open look. The Hawkeyes need Heiden in their offense; the center just needs to stay out of foul trouble.
Advertisement
LGHL: For the last three years, Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon riled up her fair share of Iowa fans, and the rivalry between the two traditional Big Ten women’s basketball powerhouse programs always included a little bit of controversy. What is the pulse of Iowa fans towards the Buckeyes, even with McMahon no longer playing?
DI: In ranking rivalries, I’d argue Iowa State and Nebraska garner far more animosity from Iowa fans, but the Hawkeye faithful do remember McMahon and are glad she’s out of the Big Ten at Ole Miss. Skilled bigs like McMahon were the Hawkeyes’ kryptonite last season, and talented post players are still trouble this year. I look back to the loss against Iowa State with Audi Crooks, as well as to UConn with Sarah Strong.
Regardless of personnel, Ohio State is still a school Big Ten teams want to conquer. In women’s basketball, I look back to former Buckeye guard Jacy Sheldon and her tenacious defense on Caitlin Clark back in college. The pair’s eye-poking altercation in the WNBA definitely reignited the rivalry between Iowa and Ohio State, one that will carry over on Sunday in another ranked-on-ranked battle.
