The University of Iowa women's basketball program has released its non‑conference schedule for the 2026‑27 season, a slate that pits the Hawkeyes against a who's‑who of national powerhouses. The announcement comes as the team looks to build on last year’s momentum and break into the top‑12 of the NCAA Division I rankings.
Building a competitive roster
Head coach Jan Jensen, who guided the team to a strong finish last year, emphasized the importance of testing the roster against top‑tier competition as the squad blends six newcomers with five returning veterans. Jensen highlighted the strategic use of the NCAA Transfer Portal to bring in talent that can immediately contribute.
The schedule features a mix of home, away and neutral‑site contests, including a home‑and‑home series with UConn that opens on November 8 in either Storrs or Hartford, Connecticut. The matchup against Vanderbilt is slated for November 15 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, while neutral‑site games in Nassau, Bahamas, will see the Hawkeyes face Utah and Toledo as part of the Baha Mar Classic on November 23 and 25.
Additional contests include a game against Montana State, a program that reached the Great Eight of the WNIT last season, and a series of mid‑major opponents later in December. The Hawkeyes will host Drake University on December 1, welcome Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy‑Hawk Series on December 9, and close the non‑conference stretch with games versus Southern on December 13 and Northern Illinois on December 20.
Media day is scheduled for early October, with television broadcast details to be announced later, giving fans a chance to follow the team’s progress throughout the early season. The ambitious slate is designed not only to showcase the team’s talent but also to prepare them for the rigors of Big Ten play.