A bold non‑conference roadmap
Iowa’s women’s basketball program has released its complete non‑conference schedule for the 2026‑27 season, a 12‑game lineup that blends home dominance with carefully chosen road tests.
The campaign opens on November 2 with a home clash against Towson, followed just three days later by a matchup against Eastern Illinois on November 5, giving the team an early chance to find rhythm.
A short road swing then takes the Hawkeyes to Connecticut for a showdown with UConn on November 8, and to Cedar Falls for a meeting with Northern Iowa on November 12, tests that coach Jan Jensen says are essential for early-season growth.
A neutral‑site contest in Sioux City on November 15 will pit Iowa against Vanderbilt, adding a marquee opponent to a schedule that also includes a Thanksgiving Week adventure in the Bahamas.
During the holiday stretch, the Hawkeyes will travel to Nassau to compete in the Baha Mar Classic, where they are slated to face Utah on November 23 and Toledo on November 25, a pair of games that promise high‑energy environments and a chance to bond off the court.
After returning home, Iowa will host Drake on December 1, welcome Iowa State on December 9, and then take on Southern on December 13 before closing the non‑conference slate with a game against Northern Illinois on December 20.
The roster that will execute this ambitious schedule features six newcomers alongside five returning veterans, a mix that adds both fresh talent and institutional knowledge, a combination that Jensen believes will accelerate team chemistry.
Looking ahead to the Big Ten
With the non‑conference slate set, the focus now shifts to how these early battles will translate into readiness when Big Ten play begins, as the coaching staff uses the diverse opponents to fine‑tune strategies and build depth.
The excitement surrounding the schedule reflects a broader ambition: to enter conference play with a well‑rounded, battle‑tested squad capable of competing at the top of the league.