The spotlight is nothing new for Iowa women’s basketball, and the Hawkeyes are once again entering one of the biggest venues the sport has to offer. It’s understandable why Sports Illustrated named their forthcoming matchup with UConn one of their Week 7 must-watch games. With a lot on the line, recent history, and hopes for a national championship, the game pits two formidable programs against each other. The stakes were extremely high when Iowa and UConn last faced off. The Hawkeyes surprised the Huskies with a thrilling 71–69 victory in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Final Four at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, earning a trip back to the national championship game.
There were multiple stars on that night. On the biggest stage in college basketball, Caitlin Clark scored 21 points as was to be expected, but forward Hannah Stuelke was the real star. In a game that came down to the last possession, Stuelke scored a game-high 23 points to help Iowa defeat an unrelenting UConn team. The two programs will now square off once more in a regular-season match that is still very important. The Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will pit Iowa against UConn on Saturday. The game feels anything but typical with a national audience watching and the bright lights of New York City.
With a 9-0 record and the top spot in the national rankings, UConn is unbeaten going into the game. Every opponent the Huskies take on is made more difficult by the fact that they are the reigning national champions. Iowa, on the other hand, enters the game with a No. 12 national ranking and is keen to demonstrate that it can once again compete with the best in the sport. Sports Illustrated noted the talent on the court as well as the implications for postseason positioning, highlighting the game as one of the biggest games of the week. A victory would be more than just a boost to Iowa’s resume. As March draws near, it might have a big effect on the Hawkeyes’ NET ranking and improve their position.
The Hawkeyes do come to Brooklyn fresh off their season’s first setback. In the yearly Cy-Hawk game, Iowa lost to in-state rival Iowa State 74–69, exposing a few areas that the Hawkeyes will need to address right away. Audi Crooks, the center for the Cyclones, dominated the paint all night long, scoring thirty points and creating havoc.
Forwards Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combined to shoot 9-for-21 from the field in that defeat, but Heiden’s effectiveness was hampered by foul trouble. Those problems can’t afford to reappear against a UConn team with a frontcourt full of size and depth. Dan Falkenheim of Sports Illustrated noted that UConn’s deep rotation of forwards, including Sarah Strong, can put pressure on Iowa’s backcourt and challenge its interior.
For their part, the Huskies appear to be among the best teams in the country. UConn dominated USC this past weekend, leading 69–39 going into the fourth quarter and winning handily. When UConn finds its rhythm, that performance served as a reminder of how brutal it can be. The matchup is further complicated by history. Iowa and UConn met at the Phil Knight Legacy Championship on November 27, 2022, prior to their historic Final Four encounter in 2024. Azzi Fudd scored 24 points to help UConn win that game 86-79. In a close defeat, Kate Martin scored 20 points and Caitlin Clark scored 25 for Iowa.
In the all-time series, UConn has a 6–4 advantage overall, which highlights how fiercely competitive these teams have always been when they share the court. The task at hand cannot be sugarcoated. It’s always intimidating to play UConn, and this Huskies team might be the best yet. However, Iowa has previously demonstrated that it won’t back down from a challenge. Saturday’s game could once again produce something exceptional if the Hawkeyes can bounce back from their recent loss and play with the assurance that has characterized this phase of the program. It serves as yet another reminder to supporters that the outcome of Iowa vs. UConn is a must-see basketball game.
