Fans are giddy over the Iowa women’s basketball program’s recent release of what they refer to as their first PG depth chart for the 2025–2026 campaign.
Even though things might change in the future, the Hawkeyes’ early hierarchy provides a clear indication of what head coach Jan Jensen hopes to create. At the top, Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright appears to be the early favorite to take over as point guard. Jensen has already stated that Wright is “likely the starter at point guard,” with freshman Addie Deal and sophomore Taylor Stremlow supporting her.
Jensen has stressed in interviews this fall that Iowa has a combination of speed, experience, and youthful energy thanks to that lineup. It’s interesting to see Wright here.
She doesn’t physically match many Big Ten guards at 5’4″, but she has received recognition for her quickness, ball handling, and ability to generate offense from the arc. Last season, she started 12 games for Georgia Tech and averaged 7.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 rebounds.
Her abilities fit Iowa’s developing identity as a guard who can push tempo, distribute, and keep defenses honest, even though those numbers don’t exactly shout “franchise PG.”
Stremlow is ranked second on the depth chart, behind Wright. She is from Verona, Wisconsin, so she is accustomed to the system as a sophomore. During summer workouts, she has displayed moments of consistent poise.
Deal provides a wildcard option as a freshman. Because she can move between guard positions, Jensen has more options during games and rotations. Naturally, Jensen appears to be well aware that an initial depth chart is not final.
He has openly admitted that while the younger guards will have to earn their opportunities throughout the season, upperclassmen have an advantage early on because they have assimilated Iowa’s system. Hoops at Iowa College Jensen stated, “Depth will come a little later.”
The real challenge lies in striking a balance between stability and growth, particularly in a position as sensitive as point guard. This depth chart’s indications of Iowa’s development since Caitlin Clark are what really make it compelling.
The Hawkeyes are basically reconstructing their guard identity in the wake of the departures of Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and Clark.
Given this, Wright’s early nod might be a statement rather than just a formality. Iowa wants to spread the load among a number of talented playmakers rather than relying too heavily on a single star guard.
Notably, Wright, Stremlow, and Deal are already mentioned by some commentators and Iowa folklore as potential PG candidates. Considering the structure of the depth chart, that makes sense. It will be interesting to watch how the rotation plays out in real time, though; will Wright continue to lead or will Stremlow overtake her? Is Deal able to secure a significant portion? To find out which way it leans, Iowa supporters will watch every preseason scrimmage, early Big Ten game, and midseason change.
This excites me personally. It’s difficult to replace a legend like Clark; Iowa needs someone who can motivate the team in addition to someone who can oversee it. That’s a difficult task. The spark belongs to Wright. The foundation is Stremlow’s. The upside is the deal. Iowa may not only survive the post-Clark era, but flourish in it if all three develop concurrently.
