Iowa AP Poll Ranking: Hawkeyes Climb to No. 7 Despite UCLA Championship Loss

The latest Iowa AP Poll Ranking delivered a surprising twist for fans following the Big Ten Tournament. Despite suffering a crushing championship loss to UCLA, the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team has moved up two spots to No. 7 in the newest Associated Press Top 25 poll released on March 9.

For a program that just endured a 96–45 defeat in the Big Ten title game, the jump in the rankings shows just how strong Iowa’s overall tournament performance was in Indianapolis. The Hawkeyes didn’t simply survive the week they knocked off quality opponents and reaffirmed their place among the nation’s elite teams as the NCAA Tournament approaches.

With a 26–6 overall record, Iowa now shifts its focus to Selection Sunday, where the program will finally learn its path in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Iowa AP Poll Ranking

The updated Iowa AP Poll Ranking reflects how the Hawkeyes’ strong run to the Big Ten championship game impacted national voters, even after the difficult loss to the No. 2-ranked UCLA Bruins.

Iowa entered the Big Ten Tournament with momentum and delivered two impressive wins before running into one of the most dominant teams in college basketball.

The Hawkeyes first defeated Illinois in the quarterfinals, showcasing their offensive depth and defensive intensity. They followed that with a major statement victory over No. 9 Michigan in the semifinals a game that demonstrated Iowa’s ability to compete with top-10 opponents on the national stage.

That victory over Michigan played a significant role in the Hawkeyes’ rise in the rankings.

However, the championship matchup told a different story.

Facing UCLA, Iowa ran into a Bruins team that has been one of the most consistent forces in women’s college basketball this season. The result was a 96–45 final score, a lopsided outcome that ended Iowa’s tournament run.

Even with that defeat, voters clearly valued Iowa’s earlier performances in Indianapolis.

Instead of dropping in the rankings, the Hawkeyes climbed two spots to No. 7 nationally.

How the Big Ten Tournament Impacted Iowa

Tournament play often reshapes the national rankings, and Iowa’s week in Indianapolis proved exactly why.

The Hawkeyes’ quarterfinal win over Illinois set the tone. Iowa controlled the pace of the game and executed efficiently on both ends of the court.

Then came the semifinal showdown with No. 9 Michigan, one of the most important wins of Iowa’s season.

Michigan entered the game ranked inside the top 10 and widely considered a dangerous postseason opponent. Iowa’s victory not only sent the Hawkeyes to the conference championship game but also reinforced their credibility among national poll voters.

That win carried significant weight when the Associated Press voters evaluated the latest rankings.

Even though the championship game ended in a difficult loss, Iowa had already demonstrated its ability to beat elite teams.

UCLA Dominates the Championship Game

The Big Ten title game ultimately belonged to UCLA.

The Bruins delivered a commanding performance from start to finish, building an early lead and never allowing Iowa to regain momentum.

The final score 96–45 highlighted UCLA’s offensive efficiency and defensive pressure throughout the game.

UCLA’s strong season has already placed the Bruins among the nation’s best teams, and their dominance in the championship game reinforced that reputation.

In the latest AP poll, UCLA holds the No. 2 spot, receiving three first-place votes.

The only team ahead of the Bruins in the rankings is UConn, which collected 28 first-place votes and sits atop the national poll.

The Full March 9 AP Women’s Basketball Top 25

The March 9 Associated Press women’s basketball poll includes several familiar powerhouse programs alongside rising contenders.

Here is the complete Top 25:

1. UConn
2. UCLA
3. Texas
4. South Carolina
5. LSU
6. Vanderbilt
7. Iowa
8. Duke
9. Michigan
10. Oklahoma
11. Ohio State
12. West Virginia
13. Louisville
14. TCU
15. North Carolina
16. Kentucky
17. Maryland
18. Minnesota
19. Ole Miss
20. Michigan State
21. Baylor
22. Notre Dame
23. Princeton
24. Georgia
25. Texas Tech

The poll reflects the depth of talent across women’s college basketball this season, with multiple conferences represented throughout the rankings.

For Iowa, landing at No. 7 places the Hawkeyes firmly among the nation’s top contenders entering the NCAA Tournament.

Teams Receiving Votes Outside the Top 25

Several programs narrowly missed the Top 25 but still received votes from AP poll voters.

Those teams include:

• Alabama — 47 votes
• Fairfield — 45 votes
• Villanova — 42 votes
• Colorado — 11 votes
• Rhode Island — 9 votes
• South Dakota State — 5 votes
• Oregon — 5 votes
• Illinois — 3 votes
• Quinnipiac — 1 vote

These schools remain close to the rankings and could enter the Top 25 depending on their performances in upcoming postseason games.

What Iowa’s No. 7 Ranking Means

For the Hawkeyes, the No. 7 ranking provides strong positioning heading into the NCAA Tournament.

The ranking reflects not only Iowa’s 26–6 record but also the strength of its victories throughout the season.

The semifinal win over Michigan demonstrated that Iowa can compete with other top-tier programs, while its consistent performance throughout the year kept the Hawkeyes inside the national spotlight.

The ranking also signals that poll voters believe Iowa remains one of the teams capable of making a deep tournament run.

That belief will soon be tested.

All Eyes on Selection Sunday

The next major moment for Iowa women’s basketball will arrive on Selection Sunday, when the NCAA Tournament bracket is officially announced.

That event will determine:

• Iowa’s tournament seed
• The location of its first-round games
• Its potential path toward the Final Four

With the Hawkeyes ranked No. 7 nationally, expectations remain high.

Teams ranked in the top 10 often receive favorable seeds in the tournament, which can play a major role in shaping a program’s postseason chances.

For Iowa, the goal now shifts from conference play to the national stage.

A Season Still Full of Possibility

While the Big Ten championship loss to UCLA was difficult, it does not erase the work Iowa has done throughout the season.

The Hawkeyes remain one of the most respected teams in women’s college basketball.

Their 26 victories, combined with high-profile wins like the semifinal triumph over Michigan, helped secure their place among the nation’s elite programs.

The latest Iowa AP Poll Ranking confirms that voters still see the Hawkeyes as a legitimate contender heading into March Madness.

And in college basketball, the NCAA Tournament has a way of rewriting every storyline.

All it takes is a few wins to change everything.