WBB Notes: No. 10 Iowa Set for Top-10 Showdown Sunday Against No. 8 Vanderbilt

FOLLOW LIVE

Radio: Sunday's matchup will air on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Rob Brooks (play-by-play) and Tiffany Reedy (color) on the call. The network includes more than 40 stations across Iowa and portions of neighboring states. A 30-minute pregame show precedes each broadcast.

TV: Sunday's matchup against No. 8 Vanderbilt will air nationally on FS1, with Joey Lindstrom (play-by-play) and Kim Adams (analyst) on the call.

PROGRAM QUICK HITS

• Iowa became the first program in Big Ten history to compete in back-to-back NCAA national championship games in 2023 and 2024.
• The Hawkeyes won a school-record 34 games in 2023-24, advancing to their second consecutive national championship game and third Final Four in program history.
• Iowa has made 32 NCAA Tournament appearances, including eight consecutive berths, reaching 10 Sweet 16s, six Elite Eights, three Final Fours and two national championship games.
• The Hawkeyes have captured 16 Big Ten titles, including six conference tournament championships. Four tournament crowns have come since 2019 (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024).
• Iowa has recorded 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, tying the longest streak in program history, previously set under C. Vivian Stringer (1984-94).
• The Hawkeyes finished 27-7 overall and 15-3 in Big Ten play in 2025-26, advancing to the conference tournament championship game and earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• Jan Jensen owns a 53-19 overall record and compiled a 25-11 Big Ten mark through her first two seasons. She became the fastest head coach in program history to reach 50 career victories.
• Jensen is the first Iowa women’s basketball head coach to record 20 or more victories in each of her first two seasons.
• Iowa has sold out its season ticket allotment for the fourth consecutive season in 2026-27.
• The Hawkeyes are 145-22 in Iowa City dating back to Nov. 11, 2016.
• Iowa has produced at least one first-team All-Big Ten selection in 10 consecutive seasons dating back to 2017, most recently Ava Heiden in 2026.
• Six Hawkeyes have been selected in the WNBA Draft since 2019: Megan Gustafson, Kathleen Doyle, Monika Czinano, Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Lucy Olsen.
• Iowa returns five players and welcomes six newcomers in 2026-27, including four transfers and two first-year players.

OPENING TIP

• No. 10 Iowa (3-1) faces No. 8 Vanderbilt (4-0) on Sunday, Nov. 15, at noon (CT) at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The neutral-site matchup will air nationally on FS1.
• The Hawkeyes are coming off a 78-40 victory over Northern Iowa on Thursday. Third-year Dani Carnegie scored a season-high 22 points and surpassed 1,000 career points in the win.
• Iowa faces its second AP Top 10 opponent in a week after falling at No. 2 UConn, 91-79, on Nov. 8.
• Sunday’s matchup marks the fifth all-time meeting between Iowa and Vanderbilt and the first since 1997.

SCOUTING THE COMMODORES

• No. 8 Vanderbilt enters Sunday’s matchup 4-0 under sixth-year head coach Shea Ralph, the reigning SEC Coach of the Year and consensus national coach of the year.
• Junior Mikayla Blakes leads the Commodores with 22.0 points per game, adding 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Blakes led NCAA Division I in scoring last season (27.0 ppg) and earned SEC Player of the Year honors.
• Georgia transfer Mia Woolfolk is averaging 19.5 points per contest while shooting 69.4 percent from the field. Sophomore Aubrey Galvan adds 16.5 points and a team-high 8.3 assists per game.
• Vanderbilt is coming off a 101-59 victory over Western Kentucky on Wednesday. Woolfolk scored a season-high 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting, while Galvan added 19 points and five three-pointers.
• The Commodores finished 29-5 overall and 13-3 in SEC play in 2025-26, advancing to their first Sweet 16 in 17 seasons.

SERIES HISTORY

• Sunday marks the fifth all-time meeting between Iowa and Vanderbilt. The Commodores lead the series, 4-0.
• The programs last met Dec. 21, 1997, at the Honda Elite Four Classic in Lakeland, Fla., where Vanderbilt defeated Iowa, 60-54.
• Iowa and Vanderbilt have met twice in the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores defeated the Hawkeyes, 61-56, in 1990 and 74-63 in the 1996 Sweet 16.
• The teams also met Dec. 28, 1991, in Knoxville, Tenn., where Vanderbilt earned a 95-65 victory. Sunday’s contest is the first between the programs in nearly 29 years.

FAMILIAR FACES

• Third-year Dani Carnegie and second-year Jocelyn Faison will face former Georgia teammate Mia Woolfolk, who transferred to Vanderbilt following the 2025-26 season.
• Carnegie and Woolfolk were Georgia’s top two scorers last season, averaging 17.8 and 13.9 points per game, respectively. Carnegie earned unanimous first-team All-SEC recognition.
• Faison appeared in 25 games at Georgia during the 2025-26 campaign before joining the Hawkeyes. She is averaging 3.8 points and 4.3 rebounds through four games at Iowa.

HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE

• Vanderbilt has scored 100 or more points in each of its first four games, establishing a school record for consecutive 100-point performances.
• The Commodores became the sixth NCAA Division I program since 1999-2000 to score at least 100 points in four consecutive games.
• Vanderbilt is averaging 103.8 points per contest with a +52.8 scoring margin. The Commodores have defeated Lipscomb (112-53), Queens (100-42), Morehead State (102-50) and Western Kentucky (101-59).
• Iowa has held three of its first four opponents to 45 points or fewer, while Vanderbilt has scored at least 100 points in each of its first four contests.

TWO TOP-10 TESTS

• No. 10 Iowa will face its second AP Top 10 opponent in as many Sundays and make its second FS1 appearance of the season after visiting No. 2 UConn on Nov. 8.
• Against the Huskies, Chazadi ‘Chit-Chat’ Wright scored a season-high 23 points and matched her career high with five three-pointers. Ava Heiden added 15 points.
• The Hawkeyes outscored UConn, 28-19, in the fourth quarter and 42-39 in the second half after trailing by as many as 27 points.
• Sunday’s matchup marks Iowa’s first neutral-site contest of the 2026-27 season.
• Iowa recorded three victories against AP Top 10 opponents in 2025-26, defeating No. 7 Baylor (57-52), No. 6 Michigan (62-44) and No. 8 Michigan (59-42).
• The Hawkeyes’ most recent top-10 victory came against No. 8 Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on March 7, 2026. Iowa held the Wolverines to 42 points in the neutral-site victory.
• Third-year Ava Heiden scored at least 16 points in all three top-10 victories last season, including double-doubles against Baylor (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Michigan (24 points, 10 rebounds).

UNI REWIND

• No. 10 Iowa defeated Northern Iowa, 78-40, on Nov. 12 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, improving to 3-1 overall and 3-0 at home.
• The Hawkeyes held UNI to 11 first-half points, one above the program record for fewest points allowed in a half. Iowa led 40-11 at halftime and extended its advantage to a season-high 46 points.
• Third-year Dani Carnegie scored a season-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting and added six assists, eclipsing 1,000 career points in the victory.
• First-year McKenna Woliczko added 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds, while third-year Ava Heiden contributed 15 points. Jocelyn Faison matched her career high with seven points and pulled down a career-high six rebounds.
• Iowa registered a season-high 24 assists on 32 made field goals and shot a season-best 55.2 percent (32-of-58) from the field.
• The Hawkeyes forced 26 turnovers, converting them into 28 points, and outscored the Panthers 42-14 in the paint and 22-0 in fast-break points.

MILESTONE MOMENTS

• Fourth-year Amari Whiting and third-year Dani Carnegie reached 1,000 collegiate career points in consecutive games. Whiting accomplished the feat at No. 2 UConn on Nov. 8, while Carnegie surpassed the milestone against UNI on Nov. 12.
• Third-year Ava Heiden surpassed 800 career points against UNI and enters Sunday’s matchup with 805. She ranks 10th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (72.7).
• Carnegie enters Sunday’s matchup with 1,009 career points, while Whiting has 1,003. Carnegie leads Iowa in scoring at 16.8 points per game.

TURNOVER PRESSURE

• Iowa has forced 78 turnovers through four games, averaging 19.5 per contest. The Hawkeyes have recorded 39 steals, averaging 9.8 per game.
• The Hawkeyes forced a season-high 27 turnovers against Eastern Illinois, converting them into 30 points. Iowa followed with 26 forced turnovers and 28 points off turnovers against UNI.
• Second-year Journey Houston leads Iowa with nine steals, averaging 2.3 per contest. Fourth-year Amari Whiting has recorded eight steals, including a career-high-tying six against Eastern Illinois.
• Iowa owns a +4.5 turnover margin through four games.

WINNING THE GLASS

• Iowa has outrebounded its opponents, 156-121, through four games, averaging 39.0 rebounds per contest with a +8.8 rebounding margin.
• The Hawkeyes outrebounded Towson, 52-27, Eastern Illinois, 44-25, and UNI, 38-31.
• Iowa owns a 49-36 advantage in offensive rebounds and has outscored its opponents, 50-22, in second-chance points.
• First-year McKenna Woliczko leads Iowa with 5.8 rebounds per game, followed by fourth-year Amari Whiting at 5.5. Woliczko recorded a career-high nine rebounds against UNI.

SEC SHOWDOWNS

• Iowa is 5-4 in its last nine meetings against current SEC programs, including five victories in NCAA Tournament play.
• The Hawkeyes defeated Missouri (2019), Kentucky (2021), Georgia (2023), South Carolina (2023) and LSU (2024) during that stretch.
• Iowa defeated No. 1 South Carolina, 77-73, in the 2023 Final Four and LSU, 94-87, in the 2024 Elite Eight.
• Iowa last faced an SEC opponent in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, falling to Oklahoma, 96-62.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

• Iowa has four players named to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame positional award preseason watch lists for the 2026-27 season.
• Chazadi ‘Chit-Chat’ Wright was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list, recognizing the nation’s top point guard. Dani Carnegie earned a spot on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award watch list, recognizing the nation’s top shooting guard.
• McKenna Woliczko was selected to the Katrina McClain Award watch list, recognizing the nation’s top power forward. Ava Heiden was named to the Lisa Leslie Award watch list, recognizing the nation’s top center.
• Heiden and Carnegie were also named to the 50-player Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year preseason watch list. Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes and Aubrey Galvan are also among the 50 candidates.
• Iowa has produced two previous Naismith Trophy winners. Megan Gustafson earned the award in 2019, while Caitlin Clark won in 2023 and 2024.

THE RETURNING FIVE

• Ava Heiden, Chazadi ‘Chit-Chat’ Wright, Taylor Stremlow, Journey Houston and Layla Hays return for the Hawkeyes in 2026-27.
• Heiden averaged 18.0 points and 7.2 rebounds last season while shooting 64.1 percent from the field. She totaled 612 points and 246 rebounds, ranking third and seventh, respectively, on Iowa’s second-year single-season lists.
• Heiden has scored 15 points in three consecutive games and is shooting 72.7 percent (24-of-33) from the field through four contests.
• Wright has made a team-high 11 three-pointers through four games, shooting 47.8 percent from beyond the arc. She is averaging 12.5 points and 3.8 assists per game.
• Wright, Heiden and Stremlow were voted team captains for the 2026-27 season.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

• Iowa welcomed four transfers: Dani Carnegie (Georgia), Jocelyn Faison (Georgia), Amari Whiting (Oklahoma State) and Bria Medina (Knox College).
• Carnegie was the No. 6 overall transfer portal prospect and earned unanimous first-team All-SEC recognition at Georgia in 2025-26. She averaged 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season.
• Carnegie leads Iowa in scoring through four games, averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest.
• Whiting started all 34 games at Oklahoma State last season, averaging 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. She has recorded 12 assists and eight steals through four games at Iowa.
• Carnegie helped Team USA capture gold at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup.

STAR POWER FROM SAN BRUNO

• McKenna Woliczko was rated the No. 6 overall prospect nationally by ESPN and is the second-highest-rated recruit in Iowa program history.
• Woliczko was selected to the 2026 McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.
• The San Bruno, Calif., native averaged 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game during her high school career at Archbishop Mitty.
• Woliczko recorded a career-high 22 points against Eastern Illinois, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range. She added 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds against UNI.
• Through four collegiate games, Woliczko is averaging 12.5 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds while shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from beyond the arc.
• Woliczko owns two USA Basketball gold medals from the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup.

FOUR OUT, ALL IN

• Iowa has transitioned to a four-out, one-in motion offense after utilizing a double-post, high-low system for much of the 2025-26 campaign.
• Jensen said the offensive adjustment is designed to create additional driving lanes for guards and make it more difficult for opponents to double-team Heiden.
• Houston is transitioning from a post-oriented role to a perimeter position, adding versatility to Iowa’s backcourt.
• Iowa is averaging 18.5 assists per game through four contests and recorded a season-high 24 assists against UNI.
• Heiden led all Power Four players in scoring improvement last season, increasing her average by 13.0 points per game.

BIG TEN, BIG HONORS

• Heiden earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition from both the coaches and media in 2025-26.
• Wright garnered third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and honorable mention recognition from the media.
• Heiden received honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press, USBWA and WBCA.
• Jensen was named a 2026 Naismith Coach of the Year semifinalist and a WBCA Division I Coach of the Year finalist.

SETTING THE STAGE

• Iowa enters its fifth game of the 2026-27 season following a 27-7 campaign that included a 15-3 mark in Big Ten play last year.
• The Hawkeyes have made 32 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, including eight consecutive trips to the Big Dance.
• Iowa has recorded 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, tying the longest streak in program history.
• Jensen is in her third season as head coach and 27th with the program. She owns a 53-19 career record and became the fastest head coach in school history to reach 50 career wins.
• The Hawkeyes earned a No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
• Iowa recorded seven AP Top 25 regular-season victories in 2025-26, tying a program record. Five came against AP Top 15 opponents, also matching a school record.

HAWKEYES IN THE POLLS

• Iowa remained No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 on Nov. 9, tied with UCLA. The Hawkeyes are No. 13 in the Nov. 10 USA TODAY Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll.
• Ten Big Ten programs are ranked in the latest AP Top 25, including No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 USC and Iowa and UCLA tied at No. 10.
• Iowa finished the 2025-26 season ranked No. 16 in the final AP Top 25 after reaching as high as No. 7 during the campaign.
• The Hawkeyes defeated three AP Top 25 opponents in three consecutive regular-season games for the first time in program history from Jan. 18-25, 2026.

CIRCLE THE DATES

• Iowa faces No. 8 Vanderbilt on Sunday, Nov. 15, at noon (CT) at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The game will air nationally on FS1.
• The Hawkeyes return home to host Montana State on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will stream on B1G+.
• Iowa will travel to Nassau, Bahamas, for matchups against Utah (Nov. 23) and Navy (Nov. 25) at the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship.
• The Hawkeyes will host Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. The contest will air on FS1.
• Iowa’s 18-game Big Ten slate features nine home and nine road contests, with Nebraska serving as the Hawkeyes’ lone home-and-home opponent.

PACKED HOUSE, AS USUAL

• Iowa has sold out its season ticket allotment for the fourth consecutive season.
• The Hawkeyes welcomed 13,131 fans to their season-opening victory over Towson, 13,314 against Eastern Illinois and 13,609 against UNI.
• Iowa has drawn 40,054 fans through three home games this season, averaging 13,351 per contest.
• Iowa welcomed 224,970 fans across 15 regular-season home games in 2025-26.
• Corda Credit Union was named the presenting sponsor of Iowa women’s basketball in October as part of a multiyear partnership.

FROM CARVER TO THE W

• Iowa has produced six WNBA Draft selections since 2019: Megan Gustafson, Kathleen Doyle, Monika Czinano, Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Lucy Olsen.
• Olsen was selected by the Washington Mystics in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, becoming Jensen’s first WNBA Draft pick as head coach.