Women’s basketball at Iowa is still growing and quickly.
The Hawkeyes are now witnessing the results of their early success in the national spotlight after starting the season with a perfect 6-0 record and winning big games against Miami and then-No. 10 Baylor to win the WBCA Showcase title in Orlando, Florida. As the season draws closer to December, Iowa is rising into a more advantageous position according to ESPN’s most recent Women’s College Basketball bracketology update, which was published on November 25.
Considering how the Hawkeyes have performed, particularly in Orlando, their leap is not shocking. Ava Heiden, a sophomore center, gave a two-game performance that can change a team’s expectations. In the upset victory over Baylor, she was a force from the first tip, scoring eighteen points, pulling down eleven rebounds, and dishing out three assists. Against a Baylor team known for its physicality inside the court, her efficiency was equally impressive—she made 7 of 14 shots and went 4-for-5 at the free-throw line.
Heiden was, if anything, even better the following day. She once again provided calm, reliable production in the post against Miami, scoring 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbing six rebounds. She won both the USBWA National Player of the Week award and the Big Ten Player of the Week award for those consecutive performances, an amazing double nod that demonstrates how influential she was at the Showcase.
The Hawkeyes were rewarded by ESPN’s bracketology forecast, which moved them up to a No. 4 seed in the Sacramento (Region 4) quarter, thanks to Heiden’s leadership and Iowa’s continued composure late in games. Iowa would host its opening-round pod in that capacity, which is always important in the women’s competition. Particularly for teams with fervent fan bases, home-court advantages can make all the difference. Few schools can match Iowa’s enthusiasm and attendance.
ESPN predicted that Iowa would play No. 13 seed Illinois State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes could face the Bears once more if both teams advance because No. 5 Baylor would play No. 12 Green Bay on the opposite side of the pod. A rematch in March would be highly anticipated, considering how close their first encounter was.
There are many things to consider in the remainder of Iowa. Texas, ranked first, will play Bryant, ranked sixteenth, at the top of the Sacramento bracket. One of the more competitive 8-9 games is expected to pit nearby No. 8 Nebraska against No. 9 South Dakota State. In other matches, No. 3 North Carolina is paired with No. 14 High Point, and No. 6 Oklahoma State is paired with either No. 11 Virginia Tech or Colorado. No. 2 LSU, another formidable team, would play No. 15 Southern Mississippi, while No. 7 Ohio State would play No. 10 Texas Tech.
From top to bottom, it’s a fascinating area that balances blue-blood programs with potent mid-majors and possible early upsets. However, Iowa’s ranking of No. 4 is a clear improvement over previous estimates and shows how national evaluators are assessing their early-season resume.
According to ESPN, UConn is currently ranked as the top overall seed in the entire NCAA, with South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA occupying the other top spots. Kansas, California, Minnesota, and Illinois are the “Last Four Byes” on the bubble; these four teams are predicted to be safely inside the field but not by much. The teams in the “Last Four In” category—Florida, Virginia, Colorado, and Virginia Tech—would be the most sweaty. Miami, George Mason, Auburn, and Columbia are the “First Four Out,” while Marquette, Georgia, Missouri, and BYU are the “Next Four Out.”
With a projected 13 bids, the Big Ten leads the conference, a startling figure that highlights the depth of the league. The Big 12 has eight, the ACC has nine, and the SEC has eleven. Along with other highly regarded teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio State, Iowa is firmly in the top cluster of the Big Ten.
Iowa appears ready to keep rising as conference play draws near, the Hawkeyes are still unbeaten, and their stars are developing. Although the bracketology update is only a snapshot and not a guarantee, it is a significant indicator of the program’s current state. This won’t be the last time the Hawkeyes make headlines across the country if they continue to put on outstanding performances like the ones in Orlando.
