When people think of Iowa women’s basketball, chances are they still think of Caitlin Clark. She led the program to its first-ever NCAA National Championship game in 2023 and then again in 2024. Clark also helped Iowa win the Big Ten Championship three years in a row. The Caitlin Clark-Iowa accolades could truly go on forever. But the Hawkeyes have entered a new era.
Since Clark left Iowa and went on to the WNBA in 2024, the program fell off. Last season, the Hawkeyes went 22-10 on the season. Midseason, they lost five games in a row, leaving them unranked and their future unclear. They ultimately ended their season with a loss to Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA tournament. So far, this season is a different story.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are sitting at 17-2, and 8-0 in Big Ten play. They’re currently ranked No. 10 and are coming off two ranked wins in a row. Their roster consists of players who have been at Iowa for a few years, newcomers, and transfers — all who have worked together to get Iowa back in good standing.
This Iowa roster could win it all
Iowa has three starters averaging 10+ points per game. Ava Heiden has taken a major jump since her freshman season, in which she averaged 5.0 points in only 9.8 minutes per game. This year, she has entered the starting lineup and proved she belongs there — averaging 16.3 points, shooting 62.6 percent from the floor, and 7.7 rebounds per game. On Thursday, in their overtime win over No. 15 Maryland, Heiden put up 20 points and 8 rebounds…