Honestly, if you thought the air would completely leak out of Carver-Hawkeye Arena once the No. 22 jersey headed to the WNBA, you haven't been paying attention lately. The latest iowa womens basketball news isn't just a story of "life after Caitlin"; it’s a full-blown statement.
Just this past Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Hawkeyes went into Bloomington and did something they haven't done in years. They stared down a 16-point halftime deficit against Indiana, a place that’s usually a house of horrors for visiting teams, and they simply refused to blink.
By the time the final buzzer rang at Assembly Hall, Iowa escaped with a 56-53 win. It wasn't pretty. It was gritty, ugly, and exactly the kind of "culture win" that proves head coach Jan Jensen isn't just maintaining a program—she's evolving it.
The Assembly Hall Comeback and What It Actually Means
You've gotta look at the numbers to realize how bleak it looked early on. Iowa shot a miserable 24% from the field in the first half. They looked out of sync. But then the third quarter happened.
Iowa went on a 19-4 tear that basically flipped the script.
The biggest piece of iowa womens basketball news from that game wasn't even the score; it was the return of Kylie Feuerbach. After missing three games with an injury, she came off the bench, hit a massive triple, and then basically saved the game with a monstrous block on Indiana’s Shay Ciezki in the closing seconds.
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It’s that kind of veteran "glue player" energy that has kept this team at 14-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the Big Ten.
Breaking Down the New Big Three
While the 2024 era was about a singular superstar, the 2026 version of the Hawkeyes is about a terrifyingly balanced frontcourt.
- Hannah Stuelke: The senior is the undisputed engine. She put up 12 points and 12 boards against the Hoosiers. She's currently shooting over 57% on close two-point looks, though her free-throw shooting is still the one thing Jan Jensen is probably losing sleep over.
- Ava Heiden: The sophomore center is becoming a problem for the rest of the Big Ten. She dropped 23 points earlier this month against Northwestern and followed it up with 13 points and 9 rebounds in the Indiana win. Her chemistry with Stuelke in the high-low game is starting to look elite.
- Chazadi "Chit-Chat" Wright: If you're looking for the heartbeat of the backcourt, it’s her. She nailed the go-ahead three-pointer with under three minutes left in Bloomington. She isn't afraid of the moment.
Why the Schedule is About to Get Brutal
So, Iowa is sitting pretty at the top of the conference standings, tied with UCLA. But the honeymoon phase of the schedule is officially over.
Looking ahead at the iowa womens basketball news calendar, the Hawkeyes are heading into a "gauntlet" stretch that will decide if they host an NCAA tournament pod in March.
On Thursday, January 15, they host Oregon at Carver-Hawkeye. The Ducks are 14-3 and feature Katie Fiso, a sophomore guard who is averaging north of 15 points a game. Then, it’s a quick turnaround to face No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.
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The real test, though? That road trip to face Maryland and then the LA schools—USC and UCLA—at the end of January.
That’s a lot of travel. It’s a lot of elite athletes.
And for a team that is currently ranked 121st in the nation in turnovers (averaging 15.5 per game), that pressure is going to be the ultimate litmus test.
The Jan Jensen Factor
Let's talk about Jan for a second. There were people—mostly outside of Iowa City—who wondered if the "Bluder Magic" would vanish when Lisa retired.
Instead, Jensen has posted a 36-13 record since taking over. She’s currently presiding over the youngest Iowa roster in 13 years.
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She's managed to keep the offense top-25 in the country while significantly dialing up the defensive intensity. Holding Indiana to just 18 points in a single half? That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because Jensen has these kids trapping and rotating like their lives depend on it.
The Reality Check: Three Things to Watch
It’s not all sunshine and Hawkeye Victory Polka, though. If you're following the iowa womens basketball news closely, there are some red flags that could trip them up in the postseason.
- The Charity Stripe: They are leaving too many points on the floor. When your primary scorers like Stuelke struggle at the line, close games against teams like UConn (who beat Iowa 90-64 back in December) become impossible to win.
- The "Lid on the Basket" Starts: Iowa has a weird habit of starting cold. They were down 14-2 early against Indiana. You can't do that against a team like UCLA or Ohio State and expect to come back.
- The Turnover Bug: 20 turnovers against Northwestern? That’s way too many. If they don't tighten up the ball handling, teams with elite press units are going to eat them alive.
What's Next for the Hawkeyes?
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury report for Jada Gyamfi. She's been out for an extended period, and getting her veteran presence back in the rotation would be huge for the February stretch.
For now, the plan is simple.
Show up to Carver-Hawkeye this Thursday. Watch how Ava Heiden handles the Oregon length. If Iowa can get through this weekend at 16-2, we aren't just talking about a "good" season anymore. We're talking about another deep run in March.
Your Actionable Insight: If you're a betting person or just a die-hard fan, watch the first five minutes of the Oregon game. If Iowa hits their first three shots and limits the early turnovers, they likely cruise. If they start 1-for-9 again, expect another nail-biter that comes down to whether or not Taylor McCabe can bail them out from deep.