Iowa women’s basketball just kicked off the 2026-27 season with a serious statement, landing the No. 10 spot in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. That’s a huge deal for them, marking their first preseason top-10 appearance since way back in the 2023-24 season, when they started at No. 3 nationally. This is a program that’s been building something special, and this ranking definitely reflects that.
Iowa’s Climb and Rebuild
Think about where Iowa was last season: they finished with a solid 27-7 record, including 15-3 in the Big Ten. They even earned the right to host NCAA Tournament games for the fourth time in five seasons, which is a fantastic streak. They started that season at No. 21, climbed all the way up to No. 7, and wrapped things up as the country’s No. 16 team. Now, they’re starting even higher. The Hawkeyes didn’t just sit back either; they retooled big time in the offseason. They brought in four transfer portal players: fourth-year guards Amari Whiting and Bria Medina, third-year guard Dani Canegie, and second-year wing Jocelyn Faison. Plus, they added first-year forwards Ella Strömdahl and McKenna Woliczko. These new faces are joining a strong core of returnees like Chit-Chat Wright, Ava Heiden, Taylor Stremlow, and Journey Houston. It’s a loaded squad.
The Big Ten’s Powerhouse Status, Including Our Huskies
This isn’t just an Iowa story, though; it’s a Big Ten takeover. The conference literally has nine programs ranked inside the preseason top 25, which is absolutely wild. No. 3 USC is leading the charge, followed by No. 5 Michigan. Then you’ve got No. 10 Iowa, No. 11 UCLA, and right there in the mix, our very own **No. 16 Washington**! Rounding out the conference’s dominance are No. 17 Minnesota, No. 18 Ohio State, No. 20 Maryland, and No. 23 Illinois. That’s a deep, tough conference slate for anyone, especially for Washington as they look to make some noise.
With Iowa starting strong at No. 10 and Washington cracking the top 20 at No. 16, this women’s college basketball season is already looking like a must-watch. The Big Ten is stacked, and every game is going to be a battle. Can Washington climb even higher, or will the veteran Big Ten teams hold them back? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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