A challenging road ahead
Head coach Jan Jensen steps into the 2026‑27 campaign with a clear mandate: rebuild a roster that lost nine key contributors while preserving the momentum from a 27‑7 season that ended with second‑place finishes in both the regular season and the conference tournament.
The Hawkeyes will open the year against Towson, a team that finished 17‑14 last year, before hosting Eastern Illinois at Carver‑Hawkeye Arena, setting the stage for a series of high‑profile matchups.
A rigorous non‑conference slate includes games against UConn in Storrs or Hartford on November 8, a road test at Vanderbilt in Sioux City on November 15, and rivalry contests with Drake, Iowa State and Northern Iowa in December.
Coach Jensen expects the newcomers — Chit‑Chat Wright, Dani Carnegie, Taylor Stremlow, Amari Whiting, McKenna Woliczko and Ava Heiden — to gel quickly, noting that the early schedule is designed to accelerate chemistry before the Big Ten slate begins.
Despite a demanding road trip through the conference, the team aims to maintain competitiveness and position itself for a strong postseason run.
The program’s strategy hinges on integrating fresh talent while leveraging the experience of returning players, hoping the tough early tests will forge the resilience needed for the conference schedule.