Iowa Women’s Basketball: Big Ten Perfection, Lineup Shakeups, and a Crucial West Coast Swing
The Hawkeyes are rolling. At 9-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since the 1995-96 season, Iowa is riding an eight-game win streak and showing no signs of slowing down. But the next stretch could be one of their biggest tests yet - a road trip to Los Angeles that starts Thursday at USC and ends Sunday with a marquee showdown against UCLA.
Back to Where It All Started
Thursday’s game at USC marks Iowa’s first visit to the Trojans since December 30, 1993 - a one-point thriller that ended in a 50-49 Hawkeye win. Fast forward more than three decades, and the stakes are much higher. Iowa holds a 5-1 edge in the all-time series, including a statement win last season in Iowa City, where the Hawkeyes pulled off a 76-69 upset.
This time around, the Trojans are limping into the matchup - literally and figuratively. USC is without All-American JuJu Watkins, who suffered a torn ACL during the 2025 NCAA Tournament and is out for the season.
Since a 10-3 start, the Trojans have dropped six of their last seven games and now sit in a tie for 12th in the Big Ten standings. Jazzy Davidson has been a bright spot, leading USC with 16.0 points per game, but the team has struggled to find consistency without its star.
New Face in the Starting Five
Iowa, meanwhile, is dealing with a roster shakeup of its own. Freshman guard Addie Deal will make her first career start Thursday, stepping in for senior sharpshooter Taylor McCabe, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Deal has been heating up at just the right time - averaging 12.0 points over the last four games, including a breakout 20-point performance in Sunday’s 91-70 win over Ohio State.
That effort earned Deal a share of Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. She’s not the only Hawkeye collecting accolades - forward Ava Heiden was named Big Ten Player of the Week, giving Iowa a clean sweep of the conference’s weekly awards.
Stuelke Dominating the Glass
Another key to Iowa’s surge? Hannah Stuelke.
The junior forward has quietly taken over the Big Ten rebounding leaderboard, now averaging 8.9 boards per game. Her presence in the paint has been a stabilizing force for a team that’s found multiple ways to win - whether it’s pushing the pace, crashing the glass, or locking in defensively.
The Showdown on Sunday
Looking ahead, Sunday’s matchup against UCLA could be the defining moment of Iowa’s regular season. Both teams are tied atop the Big Ten standings, and the winner will have a leg up in the race for the conference crown. The Bruins, playing at home, will be a tough out - but if Iowa can keep up its momentum and weather the challenges of a road trip out west, they’ll make a serious statement about their championship aspirations.
For now, all eyes are on Thursday. A win at USC keeps the streak alive and sets the stage for one of the biggest games of the season. The Hawkeyes are peaking - and they’re doing it with a mix of veteran leadership, young talent stepping up, and a belief that this team might just be special.