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Iowa Hawkeyes Women Eye No. 2 Seed Amid Challenges

3/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, coached by Jan Jensen (head coach), is positioned to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They advanced to the Big Ten quarterfinals after earning a double-bye.
Iowa faces Illinois, which recently defeated Wisconsin and Michigan State.
The absence of senior forward Hannah Stuelke heightens the importance of every remaining game to preserve seeding.

History

Historical Context

The NCAA established its women's basketball tournament in 1982, following the AIAW's earlier championships. This inaugural tournament featured 32 teams, with Louisiana Tech winning the title. Over the years, the tournament has expanded to 68 teams, reflecting the growing competitiveness of women's college basketball, as seen with teams like Iowa aiming for higher seeds and recent victories by Illinois over Wisconsin and Michigan State.

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Story summary

The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, coached by Jan Jensen (head coach), is positioned to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They advanced to the Big Ten quarterfinals after earning a double-bye.
Iowa faces Illinois, which recently defeated Wisconsin and Michigan State.
The absence of senior forward Hannah Stuelke heightens the importance of every remaining game to preserve seeding.

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