Hawkeyes Finalize 2026-27 Schedule

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s basketball team finalized its 2026-27 schedule Wednesday with the announcement of the 18-game Big Ten Conference slate.

The Hawkeyes will play nine conference games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena and nine on the road. Iowa will face all 17 Big Ten opponents with Nebraska serving as the Hawkeyes’ lone home-and-home opponent.

“The Big Ten is a tough league, and any way you slice the schedule, it’s going to be challenging,” said P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jan Jensen. “There are a lot of great coaches and great teams. If you’re fortunate enough to do well, you’ve earned it. It makes me excited for the challenge.”

Iowa will open Big Ten play at home for the first time since the 2021-22 season when Nebraska visits Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 5. The Hawkeyes will resume conference action Dec. 29 at Illinois before opening the new year at Michigan State on Jan. 1.

The Hawkeyes return home to face Rutgers on Jan. 5 before traveling to Minnesota on Jan. 9. Iowa will then host Northwestern on Jan. 14 and Indiana on Jan. 17.

Iowa heads west for consecutive road matchups at Oregon on Jan. 24 and Washington on Jan. 27. The Hawkeyes made the same Pacific Northwest swing during the 2024-25 season.

“Anytime you go west, it’s challenging because it’s out of the normal routine,” Jensen said. “We did the Oregon-Washington swing two years ago and the Los Angeles swing last year, so now we know what to expect. I’ve made some notes on what I’d like to try differently so we can be as refreshed as possible and be as successful as we can while we’re out there.”

Iowa closes January at home against Wisconsin on Jan. 31 before opening February with consecutive road games at Nebraska on Feb. 4 and Michigan on Feb. 7.

The Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a marquee homestand against USC on Feb. 11 and defending national champion UCLA on Feb. 14. The UCLA matchup is one of four Sunday home games for Iowa during Big Ten play, along with home contests against Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue.

“Our fan base makes it exciting game in and game out, nonconference and conference,” Jensen said. “I hope we can do our part to make it an exciting environment on the floor because they’ve always done their part off it. I’m grateful for this fan base and fired up to share another season with them.”

Iowa will travel to Penn State on Feb. 18 before returning home to host Purdue on Feb. 21 and Maryland on Feb. 25. The Hawkeyes close the regular season at Ohio State on Feb. 28.

The 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held March 3-7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marking the first Big Ten Tournament held in Las Vegas. The top 15 teams in the conference standings will qualify for the tournament.

Game times and television designations will be announced at a later date. More information on women’s basketball mini plans and single-game ticket sales will be released in the coming weeks.

2026-27 BIG TEN SCHEDULE

Dec. 5 – Nebraska
Dec. 29 – at Illinois
Jan. 1 – at Michigan State
Jan. 5 – Rutgers
Jan. 9 – at Minnesota
Jan. 14 – Northwestern
Jan. 17 – Indiana
Jan. 24 – at Oregon
Jan. 27 – at Washington
Jan. 31 – Wisconsin
Feb. 4 – at Nebraska
Feb. 7 – at Michigan
Feb. 11 – USC
Feb. 14 – UCLA
Feb. 18 – at Penn State
Feb. 21 – Purdue
Feb. 25 – Maryland
Feb. 28 – at Ohio State