The University of Iowa announced that its women’s basketball program will open its 2026‑27 campaign with a road test against Vanderbilt on November 15, 2026, at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The game follows a November 8 matchup with the University of Connecticut, another top‑ranked opponent, and marks the first two contests of what coaches expect to be a grueling non‑conference schedule.
A Challenging Road Ahead
Both Vanderbilt and Iowa entered the most recent NCAA Tournament as No. 2 seeds, with Vanderbilt holding the No. 8 spot and Iowa the No. 14 position in The Athletic’s early preseason Top 25. The proximity of their rankings underscores the competitive nature of the upcoming meetings, which will pit two of the nation’s elite programs against each other before conference play begins.
Adding intrigue, both squads secured talented transfers from the University of Georgia in April. Iowa’s newest addition, first‑team All‑Southeastern Conference guard Dani Carnegie will square off against her former teammate Mia Woolfolk, a key backcourt player for Vanderbilt. Carnegie’s freshman statistics of 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game suggest she could provide an immediate boost to the Hawkeyes’ offense.
Head coach Jan Jensen, now in his third season, will rely on returning star Ava Heiden, a first‑team All‑Big Ten center, to anchor the interior. Jensen’s staff hopes the early exposure to high‑caliber opponents will sharpen the team’s defensive schemes and prepare them for the rigors of Big Ten competition.
Implications for the Program
The Tyson Events Center, which seats roughly 10,000 fans, will host the Vanderbilt contest, continuing a trend of neutral‑site games that began with a 71‑58 victory over Kansas at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That previous win demonstrated Iowa’s ability to thrive in unfamiliar arenas, a factor that could prove decisive in the upcoming matchups. Beyond the two marquee games, Iowa’s non‑conference slate is projected to reach 12 contests, supplementing the regular 18‑game Big Ten schedule. The demanding road trips, including a game a day after the Iowa football team hosts Purdue at Kinnick Stadium, are designed to test the team’s depth and resilience as they aim for another strong season.