Women’s Basketball SHOCKWAVE: 5-Star Addison Bjorn Astonishes the Nation by Selecting Iowa Over Texas, Duke, and UConn! Five-star forward Addison Bjorn, one of the most sought-after recruits in the 2026 class, has formally committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes in a move that is shaking the women’s basketball community. Powerhouse programs like UConn, Duke, Kansas, Texas, Notre Dame, and North Carolina were vying for her signature for months before the announcement was made abruptly on Monday morning.
Iowa has done it once more in a flash. Bjorn’s choice is a statement rather than merely a victory. Any blueblood program in the nation could have benefited from the 6-foot-2 Kansas City phenom’s skillful footwork, adaptability, and competitive edge. She opted to wear black and gold instead, joining Iowa City’s quickly expanding empire under head coach Jan Jensen. In her dedication post, Bjorn stated, “This just felt like home.” Everything about Iowa felt right, including the fans, the culture, and the energy. I believe in them, and they believe in me.
That quote is already going viral on social media, and it’s easy to understand why. Under Lisa Bluder and Jensen, who skillfully continued the tradition after Bluder’s retirement, Iowa has been creating something unique for many years. However, this commitment may be Jensen’s most significant recruiting success to date.
Getting a top-five national prospect and defeating Texas and UConn in the process makes it very evident that Iowa is here to stay. Keep in mind that Caitlin Clark, who broke every scoring record in history and permanently changed the way that people watched women’s basketball, came from this same program. The question that has been plaguing Iowa since Clark left for the WNBA is straightforward: What comes next?
Addison Bjorn could be the solution. As a forward who can guard several positions, stretch the floor, and score inside, she is a game-changer. Her basketball IQ and her ability to dominate both ends of the court are highly praised by scouts. When you combine her with McKenna Woliczko, another five-star commit, Iowa has a frontcourt duo that looks like they belong in a Final Four bracket. Additionally, the timing couldn’t be more ideal.
For three consecutive seasons, Iowa women’s basketball has sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the fan base isn’t showing any signs of abating. Hawkeye fans flooded the replies with gifs, happy emojis, and a few cliched “Let’s goooo!” posts when Bjorn’s commitment was announced on X (formerly Twitter). The buzz is electrifying, and rightfully so.
The commitment was described as “a major recruiting power shift” by ESPN recruiting analyst Shane Laflin, who also noted that Iowa is “not just surviving the post-Caitlin Clark era — they’re thriving in it.” He is correct. Bjorn’s choice of Iowa over the more established powerhouses in women’s basketball suggests that the Hawkeyes are no longer the underdog. They are a location. Young stars now want to join this respectable contender.
According to Jan Jensen, it validates her strategy of player development, relationship-driven recruiting, and a program culture that combines fire and family. Earlier this summer, Jensen stated, “We hire people who fit Iowa.” “Competitors who aspire to be a part of something greater—not just celebrities.”
Iowa just got another one, though. The Hawkeyes’ future appears bright with Addison Bjorn on board, possibly even more so than anyone had anticipated. And if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that the entire nation takes notice when Iowa women’s basketball makes news. Hawkeye Nation, brace yourselves. Officially, the next era has begun.
