Big Ten opponents announced for the 2024-25 Iowa women's basketball season
It’s time for a new age of Big Ten basketball. The conference will officially add Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington this fall giving the league 18 teams. On Tuesday morning, the four newcomers were featured, as the Big Ten announced the women’s basketball single and double play opponents for the upcoming season.
The conference features an 18-game schedule, with Iowa playing just one team home and away. The remaining 16 teams are divided into eight single games at home and eight away. Dates and times for all games will be released closer to the beginning of the season.
The Hawkeyes will host Big Ten newcomers USC and UCLA, while traveling to Oregon and Washington. The Hawkeyes and Trojans have met five times, with Iowa winning the last matchup at the Cancun Challenge in 2013. Iowa and UCLA have met twice, with the Hawkeyes winning the last matchup at the 2016 Cancun Challenge.
As far as Oregon and Washington, Iowa has faced the Ducks just once, defeating them in overtime in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes and Huskies have met seven times, with Washington winning the last meeting at the 2019 Puerto Rico Classic.
Iowa Women’s Basketball 2024-25 Big Ten opponents
HOME ONLY: Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC and Wisconsin
THOUGHTS- If you are considering renewing your season tickets, this slate of games should get you fired up. JuJu Watkins? Kiki Rice? Kiki Iriafen? Lauren Betts? They’ll all be coming to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, as the Hawkeyes are set to host both of the highly-touted Los Angeles schools. The Trojans and Bruins are both top five in the ESPN Too-Early rankings, which makes them contenders to win the national title. Also coming to Iowa City, a Maryland team that has loaded up in the transfer portal and an Indiana team that has become a rival over the last couple of years. The Hawkeyes will also look to extend their winning streak against Wisconsin to 30 games. This home slate has some very tough matchups, but some easier games on the other end.
AWAY ONLY: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Washington
THOUGHTS- Just because the Hawkeyes get the two conference favorites at home doesn’t mean their away slate is a cake walk. The two biggest matches will be against Ohio State and Illinois. The Buckeyes are ranked #15 in the ESPN Too-Early poll and will be led by Cotie McMahon, plus a couple of transfers. The Illini come in at #24 in the ESPN poll, returning most of their lineup, including Makira Cook and Genesis Bryant. Outside of that, trips to East Lansing, Minneapolis and Seattle will not be easy ones. The home slate has the two heavy hitters, but the away slate has more depth, in my opinion.
HOME AND AWAY: Nebraska
THOUGHTS- The least surprising portion of the announcement was the Hawkeyes getting matched with the Huskers for their lone double play. The assumption was that the Big Ten would go with regional rivalries for the double play and this is an easy one, with the two schools seperated by just 300 miles. The Huskers check in at #20 in the ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25, returning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts and 6’3 center Alexis Markowski.
