A well-known rivalry and a few significant injury stories loom over Carver-Hawkeye Arena as Iowa women’s basketball kicks off the 2026 season. On January 1, the 14th-ranked Hawkeyes take on Nebraska in a 1 p.m. CT tip. Both teams must deal with significant absences that could affect how the afternoon plays out. Iowa, hoping to maintain its conference momentum at home, comes into the game at 11-2 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play. Nebraska, already battle-tested and fully aware of how hard it can be to leave Iowa City with a victory, comes in at 12-1 and 1-1 in league play. Nebraska would love to break the Hawkeyes’ 11-game winning streak against the Huskers over the last 13 meetings.
The injury report continues to be concerning for Iowa. Emely Rodriguez, a sophomore wing, will be sidelined once more while she recovers from a persistent back injury. Due to Rodriguez’s versatility and energy, her absence has been felt on both ends of the court. However, as the season has gone on, Iowa has learned to adapt.
Kylie Feuerbach, a graduate senior guard, is also a source of uncertainty. Feuerbach was listed as questionable due to an ankle injury on the availability report for Iowa’s decisive 99-76 victory over Penn State. Her status won’t be known until closer to tipoff because she is carrying the same dubious designation into the Nebraska game. It matters whether Feuerbach is present or not. Her leadership qualities, ability to settle the offense, and defensive instincts frequently manifest in subtle ways that don’t always show up on the stat sheet.
Meanwhile, Nebraska is dealing with a major loss of its own. Amiah Hargrove, a sophomore forward, will not play in the game. Hargrove is the Huskers’ top rebounder (6.4 rebounds per game) and second-leading scorer (12.0 points per game), making her more than just a rotation player. Particularly against an Iowa team that thrives on pace, spacing, and attacking the glass when opportunities arise, losing that kind of output leaves a noticeable void.
Nebraska may have to rearrange its frontcourt rotation and rely more on perimeter scoring in Hargrove’s absence. The Huskers’ depth and poise in a challenging setting might be put to the test by that change. In rivalry games like this one, Iowa has frequently benefited from Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s ability to magnify momentum. Iowa’s recent performance has given them more confidence. The Hawkeyes recently defeated Penn State handily, demonstrating their offensive balance and capacity to pull away when they find their rhythm. Even as they work around missing pieces, this group has developed a theme of timely scoring runs, steady guard play, and new contributions.
Iowa is still looking for consistency on the national scene, though. The Hawkeyes’ recent decline in the most recent USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll serves as a reminder that there are still high expectations and little room for error. As conference play intensifies, their standing in the NET rankings has also been a subject of debate. There is a feeling that this game serves as an additional yardstick beyond the immediate matchup. A team’s identity is often revealed through rivalry games, and Iowa is still developing its own following a string of strong victories and difficult lessons, including the crushing defeat to UConn earlier in the season. The Hawkeyes’ development is still determined by how they handle hardship, whether it comes from injuries or difficulties during games.
From Nike’s Christmas Day debut of a new Caitlin Clark-branded commercial to continued recognition for up-and-coming contributors like McKenna Woliczko on “Hawk Talk,” the program has garnered attention off the court as well. Chemistry is growing, transfers are settling in, and the season’s long arc is gradually taking shape. The focus will shift to what transpires between the lines when the ball goes up at 1 p.m. CT. Can Iowa handle its own health issues and keep up its recent dominance over Nebraska? Will the Huskers be able to make up for losing one of their best players? In front of a throng of people eager to begin the new year with a rivalry victory, those answers will arrive swiftly.
Fans will have another chance to see where this Iowa team stands early in January, with the Big Ten stakes already rising and every possession carrying weight in a season that promises more twists ahead before conference play actually arrives soon.
