Iowa women’s basketball 2025-26: They came from all corners ...

IOWA CITY — You’ll see “IOWA” on their chests, but the reach of the women’s basketball program has become far more wide than merely statewide.

It’s more expansive than just the Midwest.

It’s national now. And in one case, international.

* Sophomore Ava Heiden hails from Oregon.

* Freshmen Addie Deal and Layla Hays come from California and Alaska, respectively. Prized high school recruit McKenna Woliczko (a 2026 commit), another Californian.

* One transfer (Chit-Chat Wright) is an Atlanta native. The other (Emely Rodriguez)? She’s from the Dominican Republic.

Get acquainted with Iowa’s melting pot.

“It’s been an interesting time frame, with the Big Ten expanding in a time that was in line with the Caitlin Clark era,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said. “All of a sudden, Iowa was on a lot of TVs, and it shined a light on what we’ve been doing for a long, long time.

“If ever there was a time for broadening (our reach), now’s the time. The timing was right to go for it. Our core will always be the Midwest, and certainly Iowa.”

In two cases — Heiden and Deal — the program drew more than just the player to Iowa.

“Addie’s parents live right down the street from my parents in North Liberty,” Heiden said. “We’re both Iowans now.”

Deal is pumped for winter. Because of the basketball, or course. Plus, the non-California weather.

“I’ve got a long parka,” she said.

She added: “I love it here, how peaceful Iowa is. Everything they say about Iowa people being nice, I didn’t think it would be true, but it is.”

Hays, a 6-foot-5 post, has been fighting pangs of homesickness.

“I sure miss it a lot,” Hays said of her hometown of Wasilla, which at about 9,000 is the fourth-largest city in Alaska. “I miss my family. I miss the wildlife.”

“The humidity here during the summer, that was an adjustment. It’s hard to get used to this many people, but I love when the seasons change here.”

The Hawkeyes met the media Tuesday, a mere 16 days before their season opener.

They’ll face Ashland University in an exhibition Oct. 30 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, then it gets real Nov. 3 with a home date against Southern University.

Iowa returns three starters and 47 percent of its scoring from last season, when it was 23-11 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Season tickets at Carver are sold out for the third consecutive season, and the regular attendance of 14,998 will witness a deep, versatile team.

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“We can have a big lineup, a small lineup, a hybrid lineup,” said Jensen said, in her second season as head coach. “We have depth, and we have versatility.

Nine of the 14 players on the roster are sophomores and freshmen. Deal is the 23rd-highest 2025 recruit (according to ESPN); Hays 71st.

“The word is patience,” Jensen said. “We’re planting a lot of seeds this year, and for everything that comes after this year.

“Freshmen are still freshmen, no matter how highly decorated they are.”

A senior from Cedar Rapids, Hannah Stuelke earned preseason all-Big Ten honors after averaging 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season.

She spent much of her first three seasons as a post, but is likely to shift to her preferred position — power forward — for her final campaign.

“Hannah has always been a Robin for us,” Jensen said. “Now she’s going to be Batman.”

It’s one thing to be a lead player. It’s another to be a leader. Stuelke is prepared to be both.

“I feel more comfortable, for sure,” she said. “It’s been a journey. I had to grow in that area, getting comfortable talking.”

The roster consists of 14 players this season.

“We’re deep, but you can’t play them all,” Jensen said, adding that she is hoping the regular rotation can go at least nine-deep, and that “10 would be lovely.”

As for a projected starting lineup:

“If the first game was tomorrow, I would give the nod to experience,” Jensen said. “I think we’ll see different lineups. You could see some changes from game to game.

“If people do surpass (the veterans), it won’t be for a lack of opportunity.”

Iowa women’s basketball 2025-26

Head coach: Jan Jensen (2nd season, 23-11)

Last season: 23-11 (10-8 in Big Ten, T-8th), Big Ten tournament quarterfinalist, NCAA tournament second round

Returning starters (3): F Hannah Stuelke, G Kylie Feuerbach, G Taylor McCabe

Other top returners: G Taylor Stremlow, C Ava Heiden

Newcomers: G Chit-Chat Wright, F Emely Rodriguez, G Addie Deal, C Layla Hays, G Journey Houston

Schedule highlights: Oct. 30 — Ashland, 6:30 p.m. (exhibition opener), 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 3 — Southern University (season opener), 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 13 — Drake, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 16 — at UNI, 2 p.m.; Nov. 20 — vs. Baylor (at Orlando, Fla.), 8:30 p.m.; Dec. 6 — at Rutgers (Big Ten opener), 5 p.m.; Dec. 10 — at Iowa State, 6 p.m.; Dec. 20 — vs. Connecticut (at Brooklyn, N.Y.), noon; Dec. 28 — Penn State (Big Ten home opener), 3 p.m.; March 4-8 — Big Ten tournament, at Indianapolis

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com