Jan Jensen’s early push in the 2029 class keeps picking up steam, and the latest name on Iowa’s board is a good one.
The Hawkeyes have spent the last month getting ahead of the curve, lining up offers to several prospects in the 2029 group as they start planning for the roster turnover that could hit over the next few years. That run has included Kristen Winston, the current No. 1-ranked player in the class, and now another high-upside target from Ohio: sharpshooting combo guard Bella Swisshelm.
Swisshelm announced the offer herself after what she called a strong conversation with Iowa assistant Coach LBarrett.
“After a great conversation with @CoachLBarrett I am blessed to receive an offer from @IowaWBB!!!⬛️🟨 @WCgball @BryceMcKey @Legends_Bball pic.twitter.com/DTjuF5U74E
- Bella Swisshelm (@SwisshelmBella) July 23, 2026”
A Cincinnati native, Swisshelm is coming off a big season at West Clermont High School. According to MaxPreps, she averaged 19.4 points while shooting 65 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range. She also posted 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.5 assists per game, a stat line that shows why Iowa views her as more than just a scorer.
Prep Girls Hoops currently has Swisshelm ranked as Ohio’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2029 class, and she fits the kind of versatile guard/forward mold Iowa has targeted under Jensen. The Hawkeyes have become a five-star destination since Jensen replaced Lisa Bluder, landing five-star prospects in each of her first two recruiting cycles. Addie Deal in 2025 and McKenna Woliczko in 2026 were both five-star California prospects, and Iowa is clearly not waiting around to see how the 2029 rankings shake out before making its move.
That urgency makes sense with the current guard picture still unsettled. Iowa’s guard depth is already a question mark after this season.
Under the NCAA’s new five-for-five rule, Amari Whiting and Dani Carnegie could return next season along with Chit-Chat Wright and Taylor Stremlow, but nothing is certain there. The Hawkeyes also already added guard Jada Seubert in the 2027 class, yet they still need more help coming in behind that group.
There’s no promise Iowa will land every top name it’s chasing, but the pattern is obvious: Jensen and her staff are not afraid to go after elite talent early, even when the class is years away from becoming final. Swisshelm is one more example of that approach, and her rise over the next three years will be worth watching closely on both the high school and AAU circuits.
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Jan Jensen Is Already Chasing Iowas Next Backcourt Difference Maker
Jan Jensen and the Iowa womens basketball staff are already working well ahead of the present, turning their attention to the 2029 guard class as they look to keep the Hawkeyes backcourt pipeline stocked. Iowa has extended scholarship offers to several top prospects, including Kristen Winston, Bella Swisshelm and Madeleine Hamiel, a versatile combo guard from Minnesota who recently shared her offer after a strong freshman season.
It fits the broader shape of Iowas recruiting approach under Jensen, where guard depth remains a priority and the staff has been active in identifying future difference makers early. For a program that has long valued playmaking on the perimeter, landing the right young guards is about more than adding numbers, it is about finding the next player who can grow into the kind of role Hawkeye fans are used to watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Season May Hinge On One Position Group Early
Iowas offseason conversation has centered on the defensive line, and for good reason. With Phil Parker and Kirk Ferentz trying to rebuild a group that is suddenly much younger, the Hawkeyes are leaning hard on development, depth and the kind of fundamental football that has long been part of the programs identity. Young players such as Iose Epenesa have drawn notice as the staff looks for a new mix up front.
The challenge is not just replacing bodies, but finding a workable rotation that can hold up over the course of the season and keep explosive plays in check. Ferentz and Parker have both stressed that the line needs to be a strength through collective growth, with more players ready to contribute and take meaningful snaps as the weeks go on. For a defense that usually sets the tone in Iowa City, how quickly that group comes together may shape everything else. [Read more 🡒]