Iowa releases its 2025-26 women’s basketball non-conference slate

IOWA CITY -- Three neutral-site games and three intrastate battles highlight the Iowa women’s basketball non-conference schedule, released Thursday by the university.

The Hawkeyes host one preseason exhibition game, against Ashland on Oct. 30. They open the season for real Nov. 3, at home against Southern University.

Iowa’s most intriguing challenges come away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes play two games at Orlando, Fla., in late November (against Baylor and Miami), then take aim at reigning national champion Connecticut in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 20.

The Cy-Hawk game is at Ames on Dec. 10, and Iowa State is projected as a top-15 team by most analysts.

As for the other Big Four games, Iowa hosts Drake (Nov. 13) and travels to UNI (Nov. 16).

The Drake game, arguably, is the most intriguing of Iowa’s six home non-conference games.

Game times and TV will be released later, as will the Big Ten schedule.

Iowa is coming off a 23-11 season in Jan Jensen’s debut campaign.

Iowa women’s basketball: 2025-26 non-conference schedule

Oct. 30: Ashland (EXH)

Nov. 3: Southern University (H)

Nov. 9: Evansville (H)

Nov. 13: Drake (H)

Nov. 16: at Northern Iowa

Nov. 20: vs. Baylor (at Orlando)

Nov. 22: vs. Miami (at Orlando)

Nov. 26: Western Illinois (H)

Nov. 30: Fairfield (H)

Dec. 10: at Iowa State

Dec. 13: Lindenwood (H)

Dec. 20: vs. Connecticut (at Brooklyn)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com