Both the Iowa and Iowa State women’s basketball teams made ESPN’s top 25 preseason rankings.
ESPN’s top 25 was released on Tuesday, Oct. 7, less than a month before both teams kick off their regular seasons on Monday, Nov. 3.
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Here’s what ESPN had to say about both teams and where they placed in the top 25.
Where did the Iowa and Iowa State women’s basketball teams rank in ESPN’s preseason top 25 rankings?
The Cyclones came in at No. 13. The Hawkeyes were ranked seven spots farther down the list at No. 20.
Here is ESPN’s top 25:
ESPN noted both Iowa and Iowa State’s offseason additions through the transfer portal, with Chazadi Wright and Jada Williams, respectively.
“After five years of Emily Ryan at the point, Iowa State Head Coach Bill Fennelly is going in a different direction with Williams, a more shoot-first point guard who can get the Cyclones some easy baskets in transition,” ESPN’s Charlie Creme wrote.
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More: How Iowa State women’s basketball guard Jada Williams became a social-media star
“Wright gives the Hawkeyes more quickness at point guard to pair with the perimeter shooting of Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe,” Creme said.
How to watch Iowa women’s basketball season opener
The Hawkeyes’ first game of the season is Nov. 3 against Southern. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT in Iowa City and can be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
Iowa went 23-11 last season in Jan Jensen’s first season as the head coach, falling in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Jensen brings back several starters, including Hannah Stuelke and Kylie Feuerbach. Highly touted five-star recruit Addie Deal will make her debut with the team as a freshman for the 2025-26 season.
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2025-26 Iowa women’s basketball schedule
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Oct. 30 vs. Ashland (exhibition)
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Jan. 18 vs. Michigan State
How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball season opener
The Cyclones start their 2025-26 regular season campaign Nov. 3 against St. Thomas. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and can be live-streamed on The Varsity Network.
Iowa State finished 23–12 last season and lost to Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament. With much of its roster returning from last season, the Iowa State women’s basketball team has lofty expectations for 2025-26 with two of its top two scorers from a season ago, Audi Crooks and Addy Brown, returning. The two combined for 38.6 points and 15.2 rebounds per game last year.
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2025-26 Iowa State women’s basketball schedule
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Oct. 28 vs. UW-Oshkosh (exhibition)
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Nov. 16 vs. Norfolk State
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Nov. 28 vs. Marquette in Fort Myers, Fla.
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Nov. 30 vs. Indiana or Gonzaga in Fort Myers, Fla.
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Dec. 7 vs. Northern Illinois
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Jan. 11 vs. West Virginia
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Jan. 18 at Oklahoma State
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Feb. 18 vs. Arizona State
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Feb. 25 vs. Oklahoma State
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa, Iowa State women’s basketball teams make ESPN’s preseason top 25
