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IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s basketball center Ava Heiden was named to the 2026-27 Coaches and Media Preseason All-Big Ten teams, the conference announced Thursday.
Heiden was one of 10 student-athletes selected to both preseason teams.
The Sherwood, Oregon, native is coming off a breakout sophomore season, averaging 18.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 64.1 percent from the field. Heiden totaled 612 points and 246 rebounds, ranking third and seventh, respectively, on Iowa’s sophomore single-season lists. She recorded nine double-doubles and scored in double figures against all 17 Big Ten opponents.
Heiden earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and media and garnered honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press, USBWA and WBCA. Her 13.0-point increase in scoring average from her freshman to sophomore season led all Power Four players.
USC’s JuJu Watkins was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year by both the coaches and media.
The Hawkeyes will host Maryville in an exhibition on Oct. 29 before opening the 2026-27 regular season against Towson on Nov. 2 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
2026-27 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Berry Wallace, Jr., F, Illinois
Ava Heiden, Jr., C, Iowa
Oluchi Okananwa, Sr., G, Maryland
OLIVIA OLSON, JR., G, MICHIGAN
Syla Swords, Jr., G, Michigan
Britt Prince, Jr., G, Nebraska
Jaloni Cambridge, Jr., G, Ohio State
Jazzy Davidson, So., G, USC
JUJU WATKINS, SR., G, USC
Sayvia Sellers, Jr., G, Washington
2026-27 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
2026-27 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Berry Wallace, Jr., F, Illinois
Ava Heiden, Jr., C, Iowa
Oluchi Okananwa, Sr., G, Maryland
OLIVIA OLSON, JR., G, MICHIGAN
Syla Swords, Jr., G, Michigan
Britt Prince, Jr., G, Nebraska
JALONI CAMBRIDGE, JR., G, OHIO STATE
Jazzy Davidson, So., G, USC
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
Sayvia Sellers, Jr., G, Washington
2026-27 Media Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS.