Iowa Women’s Basketball Still Perfect in Big Ten Play, But Challenges Loom

The Iowa women’s basketball team remains unbeaten in Big Ten play at 6–0, but the Hawkeyes know the margin for error is shrinking.

Each of the last two conference wins required grit, resilience, and late execution. Iowa erased a 16-point halftime deficit to pull off a dramatic three-point road victory at Indiana, then followed it up by surviving a physical battle at Northwestern with a nine-point win.

Now, the schedule begins to turn up the heat.

After hosting Oregon on Thursday night, Iowa faces a daunting stretch against three Top-15 teams: Michigan State, Maryland, and Ohio State. The upcoming run will test not only the Hawkeyes’ talent, but their composure and attention to detail as conference play tightens.

For Iowa, the focus remains clear — sharpen the mindset, clean up the small things, and stay grounded in the present.

“If you don’t win the first one and don’t set yourself up to win the next one, then we’re having a whole different conversation about how pivotal these games are — but for a whole different reason,” head coach Jan Jensen said. “They’re pivotal for the ultimate goal of where you want to go.”

With Big Ten records beginning to level out across the league, every possession carries more weight.

“The key to this journey is always staying in the present,” Jensen said. “Being fully aware that games are going to be more competitive now because everyone’s records are really similar. Everybody is jockeying, and it could come down to one win.”

That awareness has shaped the Hawkeyes’ approach.

“Taking it one game at a time. Not overlooking anyone,” guard Chit-Chat Wright said. “Every game is a dogfight, especially in the Big Ten. As a team, it’s one possession at a time, one game at a time, one trip at a time — that’s kind of our thing.”

At 6–0, Iowa controls its own destiny — but with the league’s best looming, the Hawkeyes know perfection will require precision, patience, and poise.

The Big Ten run is alive — and about to be tested.

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