The energy around Carver-Hawkeye Arena hasn't dipped. Not even a little. If you thought the "Caitlin Clark effect" would vanish into thin air the second she put on an Indiana Fever jersey, you haven't been paying attention to Iowa City lately. People are still hungry. They’re still showing up.
Honestly, the Iowa women’s basketball schedule for 2024-25 is perhaps the most fascinating one we've seen in a decade because it’s no longer about a single superstar. It’s about a program trying to prove it belongs at the top of the mountain permanently. Jan Jensen, the long-time lieutenant to Lisa Bluder, has finally taken the wheel. She isn't just maintaining the car; she’s driving it into a brand-new Big Ten landscape that now includes the West Coast powerhouses.
Breaking Down the Non-Conference Gauntlet
Iowa didn't exactly take the easy road to start the year. Coach Jensen scheduled with intention. They kicked things off with a solid win against Northern Illinois (91-73) and then immediately jumped into the deep end.
The early highlights were a whirlwind. We saw them handle Virginia Tech in Charlotte with a 71-52 victory that silenced some of the "how will they score?" skeptics. Then came the local flavor: a trip to Des Moines to beat Drake (86-73) and a neutral-site clash in Sioux Falls against Kansas.
One of the biggest circled dates was December 11th. The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against Iowa State is always a bloodbath, and this year was no different. Iowa squeezed out a 75-69 win in front of a deafening home crowd. It was messy, physical, and exactly what this new-look roster needed to find its backbone.
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The Cancun Challenge and Beyond
Over Thanksgiving, the team swapped the Iowa chill for Mexico. They swept through the Cancun Challenge, beating Rhode Island and BYU. But it wasn't all sunshine. The Women’s Champions Classic in Brooklyn brought a reality check—a 68-78 loss to Tennessee. It showed that while this team has grit, they still struggle when the size and athleticism of elite SEC-style programs start leaning on them.
The Big Ten Just Got Much Bigger
The 18-game conference slate is where things get truly wild. This isn't your parents' Big Ten anymore. With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington joining the fray, the Iowa women’s basketball schedule for 2024-25 feels more like a national tour than a regional grind.
Iowa’s conference schedule started with a heartbreaker at Michigan State (66-68) on December 15th, but they bounced back quickly against Purdue.
Here are the key stretches that defined the middle of the season:
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- The New Year’s Kickoff: A road trip to Penn State on January 1st resulted in an 80-68 win. Nothing says "Happy New Year" like a conference road victory.
- The Sunday Slog: January saw a heavy dose of home games against Maryland, Indiana, and Nebraska. Carver was rocking, but these were absolute dogfights.
- The Pacific Northwest Swing: January 19th and 22nd saw the Hawkeyes flying to Oregon and Washington. Traveling across three time zones for conference play is a new hurdle, and splitting those games was a massive test of their endurance.
The Monster Matchups in February
If you’re looking for the games that decide the standings, look no further than February. Iowa hosted the USC Trojans on February 2nd. This was basically a "passing of the torch" moment in the eyes of the national media, with JuJu Watkins coming to town. Iowa shocked plenty of people by pulling out a 76-69 win, proving that the home-court advantage at Carver remains one of the most terrifying places to play in the country.
Later in the month, they faced UCLA on February 23rd—a narrow 65-67 loss that came down to the final possession. These games against the LA schools have completely changed the rhythm of the Big Ten season. It's faster, flashier, and way more exhausting.
Meet the New Faces Leading the Charge
You can't talk about the schedule without talking about who is actually playing. Lucy Olsen is the name everyone had to learn fast. The Villanova transfer didn't just step into the point guard role; she dominated it. She’s been averaging over 15 points and 4 assists, including a monster 25-point performance in the Cy-Hawk win.
Then there’s Hannah Stuelke. She’s no longer the "second option." She’s the focal point. Watching her evolution into a consistent double-double threat has been the highlight of the year for most fans. She’s shooting over 60% from the floor, which is just absurd when you consider how much attention defenses are paying to her now.
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Sydney Affolter has also emerged as the "glue" player every championship-level team needs. She’s the one diving for loose balls and grabbing six or seven rebounds from the guard position. It’s that blue-collar Iowa style that Jan Jensen has preached for decades.
How to Follow the Rest of the Way
The regular season wraps up on March 2nd at home against Wisconsin. After that, it’s off to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament.
If you're trying to catch these games, you basically need a spreadsheet for the TV channels. Between the Big Ten Network, FS1, and the occasional Peacock exclusive, it’s a lot to keep track of. Most home games at Carver start at either 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM CT for weeknights, with Sunday afternoon slots being the prime time for the big national broadcasts.
Practical Steps for Hawkeye Fans:
- Check the Peacock Schedule: Several key conference games, including the Washington and Wisconsin matchups, are exclusive to streaming. Make sure your subscription is active before tip-off.
- Watch the Standings: With the Big Ten now having 18 teams, the tie-breakers for the tournament in Indy are going to be a nightmare. Every single mid-week game against teams like Rutgers or Northwestern matters for seeding.
- Monitor Injury Reports: This team isn't as deep as previous years. Keep an eye on Sydney Affolter’s status as the season wears on, as her physical style of play often leads to minor bumps and bruises that can shift the rotation.
The 2024-25 season was never going to be easy. Following up a legend is a thankless task, but Jan Jensen and this roster are doing it with a specific kind of Iowa stubbornness. They might not have the logo-three-pointers every night, but they have the wins.
Stay updated on the final seeding by checking the official Big Ten standings weekly, as the scramble for a double-bye in the conference tournament usually comes down to the final weekend in March.