In women’s college basketball, there are currently plenty of excellent teams, and this fact is changing how each victory and defeat is assessed. Even excellent performances can now have repercussions due to the depth of the sport, particularly during weeks full of high-profile games. The Iowa women’s basketball team is a living example of that fact. In The Athletic’s most recent women’s college basketball power rankings, the Hawkeyes fell behind despite splitting their week between a convincing victory and a close road loss. Iowa fell four spots, from No. 8 to No. 12, serving as a reminder that there is very little room for error in a season full of elite competition.
Iowa finished the week 1-1 under head coach Jan Jensen. The Hawkeyes demonstrated their offensive rhythm and defensive control as they easily defeated Lindenwood. However, during a fierce rivalry match at Iowa State, that momentum slowed. The Cy-Hawk game had the intensity one would expect from an in-state contest, and although Iowa put up a strong fight, the narrow defeat carried more weight than usual in light of the state of the sport. A close road loss to a top-10 opponent wouldn’t usually cause a discernible decline. However, there are a lot of strong candidates in the power rankings this year who have the potential to go far in the NCAA Tournament. Voters are compelled to make tough choices because of this depth, even in cases where teams do well.
Iowa’s decline was explained by Sabreena Merchant, who put together The Athletic’s rankings, citing what happened in the paint during the rivalry match. The game between Iowa sophomore Ava Heiden and Iowa State center Audi Crooks turned out to be crucial. Crooks once again proved why she is regarded as the best center in the state by using her physicality and presence to dominate portions of the game. During her time on the court, Heiden had effective defensive moments, momentarily slowing Crooks and giving Iowa an advantage. Heiden was only able to play 16 minutes, though, due to foul trouble. The Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State by six points while she was on the field. Iowa was outscored by eleven when she was seated. In a game that was decided by narrow margins, that swing proved costly.
Heiden demonstrated development and poise, but in the end, Crooks imposed herself more consistently, according to Merchant. The decision to drop the Hawkeyes in the rankings was largely influenced by this discrepancy as well as Iowa’s incapacity to maintain control without Heiden. The analysis was merely a reflection of how competitive the top tier has become, not a dismissive one. However, Iowa’s ranking of No. 12 hardly warrants concern. If anything, it prepares us for what’s to come. The Hawkeyes won’t have to wait long to respond to the loud knock of opportunity.
Iowa’s biggest test of the season will take place this Saturday. The Hawkeyes will take on the unbeaten UConn Huskies, who are ranked #1 in The Athletic’s power rankings and are widely regarded as the best team in the nation. With three ranked wins and a recent commanding 28-point victory over USC, UConn is 10-0 going into the game. The Huskies have a wealth of skill and expertise. At 18.1 points per game, senior guard Azzi Fudd leads the team in both leadership and consistent scoring. With averages of 17.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.4 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, sophomore forward Sarah Strong has been equally outstanding. Together, they provide stability to a team that is playing at its peak.
The game on Saturday has historical significance as well. Iowa and UConn will meet for the first time since the 2024 Final Four, when the Hawkeyes shocked the Huskies 71–69 in a historic victory. Storrs is still affected by that loss, and UConn will surely be driven by retaliation. The stakes are obvious for Iowa. In addition to confirming their place among the top players in the country, a victory would probably return them to the top 10 of the power rankings. More significantly, it would demonstrate that this Hawkeye team is a serious national contender, unaffected by setbacks and prepared for the biggest stages in the sport.
The game between Iowa and UConn is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Fox will broadcast the game nationally. The Hawkeyes will be watched closely to see if they can turn a decline in their ranking into a pivotal moment.
