If you’ve been following the Hawkeyes for the last few years, you know the vibe in Iowa City is... different. It’s not just a college town anymore; it’s the epicenter of the women’s hoops universe. But there is a weird thing happening right now. Everyone is still talking about the "aftermath" of the Caitlin Clark era, while Jan Jensen is quietly—well, maybe not so quietly—assembling a roster that looks nothing like the Iowa teams of five years ago.
The Iowa women's basketball recruits 2025 class isn't just a list of names. It’s a total shift in philosophy.
Honestly, if you expected the program to just fade away once the logo shots stopped, you haven't been paying attention. Jensen didn't just inherit a seat; she inherited a recruiting machine that is now pulling kids from Alaska and California like it’s no big deal. We’re talking about a 2025 group that is basically designed to keep the Hawkeyes in the Final Four conversation without needing one player to score 30 every single night.
The Big Names You Need to Know
Let’s talk about Addie Deal.
She’s the kind of player that makes scouts just sort of nod their heads and say, "Yeah, she's got it." Coming out of Mater Dei in California—which is basically a basketball factory—Deal is a five-star guard who chose Iowa over pretty much everyone else. She’s 6-foot, she can play the point, she can slide to the wing, and she’s got this weirdly calm demeanor on the court. It’s like she’s playing at a different speed than everyone else.
Then there’s Layla Hays.
Alaska isn't exactly the first place you look for Big Ten centers, but Jensen went all the way to Wasilla to get her. Hays is 6-foot-5. Read that again. She is a legit post presence. For years, Iowa relied on "undersized but gritty" posts or versatile forwards. Hays changes that. She’s a four-star recruit who provides the kind of rim protection that Iowa fans have been begging for since, well, forever.
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Why Journey Houston is the X-Factor
Most people outside of Iowa might have overlooked Journey Houston. That’s a mistake.
She’s a local kid from Davenport North, and she’s been on the radar since she was practically a middle schooler. She was a five-star prospect before a nasty leg injury (a femur realignment, which sounds terrifying) slowed her down. But here’s the thing: by the time the 2025-26 season started, she was already proving people wrong.
During the early part of the season, she’s been backing up Hannah Stuelke at the four. Think about that. A freshman coming in and immediately finding minutes in a log-jammed frontcourt. She’s 5-11 or 6-0 depending on which roster you look at, but she plays like she’s 6-4.
"I’m under-sized for the position I’m playing right now," Houston said recently after a double-double against Penn State. "So I’m really working on my confidence and I feel like it’s kind of starting to translate."
She’s currently shooting over 60% from the field. That isn't luck. That’s just being tougher than the person guarding you.
The Ones That Got Away (and Why It Matters)
You can't talk about Iowa women's basketball recruits 2025 without mentioning the missed targets. It’s part of the game.
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Jordan Speiser was a big one. She’s a Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year who had Caitlin Clark as her host during her visit to Iowa City. Most people thought she was a lock. Instead, she chose Kansas State. Then there’s Divine Bourrage, the top-ranked player in the state of Iowa, who headed south to LSU.
Does this mean the "Iowa Bump" is over?
Hardly.
Recruiting isn't about winning every battle; it’s about fit. Jensen is looking for "Iowa people." That sounds like a cliché, but in the NIL era, it’s a real strategy. She’s targeting players who want the sell-out crowds and the "Jan Jensen energy" specifically. The fact that Iowa is even in the final two or three for players like McKenna Woliczko (a 2026 superstar who did sign with Iowa) shows that the program’s ceiling hasn't lowered. It might have actually moved up.
Breaking Down the 2025 Roster Impact
When you look at the 2025-26 roster, it’s incredibly young. You’ve got:
- Addie Deal: The blue-chip guard from Cali.
- Layla Hays: The tower from Alaska.
- Journey Houston: The "heart and soul" local wing/forward.
- Chazadi "Chit-Chat" Wright: A transfer guard who adds that veteran-ish spark.
- Emely Rodriguez: A versatile 6-0 wing who can jump out of the gym.
It’s a different look. It’s faster. It’s taller. It’s more athletic.
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The biggest misconception is that Iowa would struggle to recruit without the "Caitlin factor." If anything, the opposite happened. The spotlight showed every high school girl in the country that if you go to Iowa, people will know your name. You aren't just a number in a system; you're a rockstar in a state that actually cares about women's sports.
What This Means for the Future
If you’re a fan or just someone trying to keep up with the Big Ten, the takeaway is simple: Iowa is no longer a "developmental" program that hopes to find a diamond in the rough. They are a destination.
Jan Jensen has proven in her first full cycle that she can keep the borders closed when she needs to (mostly) and go national when she wants to. Bringing in a 6-5 center from Alaska and a 5-star guard from California in the same class is a statement.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the 2025-26 Non-Conf: Keep an eye on the minutes for the freshmen early. Jensen isn't afraid to play young kids if they can rebound.
- Follow the 2026 Trail: With McKenna Woliczko already locked in, the 2025 class is the "bridge" to what might be the most talented roster Iowa has ever had in 2026.
- Don't Box Them In: Players like Journey Houston are being trained to play multiple positions. Don't be surprised to see a "positionless" lineup where everyone is between 6-0 and 6-3.
The era of Iowa being a "one-player show" is officially dead. This 2025 class is the first real step into a world where the Hawkeyes win by being deeper, taller, and just as skilled as the blue bloods.