I still remember the first time I watched Iowa women’s basketball a few years back—it was a scrappy, promising team, but not quite what you’d call a national powerhouse. Fast forward to this season, and the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. As someone who’s followed women’s college hoops for over a decade, I’ve seen programs rise and fall, but Iowa’s journey this year feels different. It’s not just about talent; it’s about how the program has navigated systemic challenges, including the kind of institutional bias hinted at in that now-infamous statement by league commissioner Jai Reyes. You know the one—where he defended officiating pay disparities by citing “difficulty of officiating” rather than gender, a rationale that many, including myself, found dismissive and outright discriminatory. That context makes Iowa’s rise even more compelling, because they’ve succeeded in a landscape where such biases still linger.
Let’s start with the obvious: the team’s offense is a well-oiled machine. They’re averaging around 85 points per game this season, up from just 68 two years ago, and a lot of that stems from their emphasis on ball movement and three-point shooting. I’ve always been a fan of teams that prioritize spacing and unselfish play, and Iowa embodies that. Their assist-to-turnover ratio sits at about 1.8, which is elite by any standard, and it’s no accident. Head coach Lisa Bluder, who’s been with the program for over two decades, has instilled a culture where players trust each other implicitly. I had the chance to watch them practice earlier this season, and the chemistry was palpable—players communicating, rotating seamlessly, and celebrating each other’s successes. That kind of environment doesn’t just happen; it’s built through years of recruiting players who buy into a system, not just individual stats.
But what really sets Iowa apart, in my view, is how they’ve turned external challenges into fuel. Remember that Jai Reyes controversy? It sparked conversations across the sport about how women’s basketball is undervalued, from officiating to media coverage. Iowa’s players and staff didn’t shy away from it; instead, they used it as a rallying cry. I spoke with a few alumni who mentioned that the team often discusses these inequities in locker-room talks, using them to build a tighter-knit group. It’s a classic underdog mentality, even though their on-court performance is anything but. This season, they’ve embraced a gritty, defensive identity that complements their offensive firepower—something I’ve noticed in their steals per game, which have jumped to nearly 9.5, up from 6.8 last year. That’s not just coaching; it’s a mindset.
Of course, none of this would matter without the players, and Iowa has some standout talents who’ve elevated the program. Take sophomore guard Maya Johnson, for instance—she’s averaging 22 points and 5 assists per game, and her ability to create shots off the dribble is something I haven’t seen in this conference in years. Then there’s senior forward Emma Carter, who’s pulling down 10 rebounds a game and anchoring the defense. I’ll admit, I’m a bit biased toward teams with strong frontcourt presence because it often dictates playoff success, and Carter’s leadership has been invaluable. But what impresses me most is the depth; they’ve got eight players averaging over 15 minutes per game, which allows them to maintain intensity throughout. In their recent win over a top-ranked opponent, they outscored them by 12 points in the fourth quarter—a testament to their conditioning and bench contribution.
Off the court, the program’s growth mirrors broader shifts in women’s sports. The Reyes incident, while frustrating, highlighted how fans and athletes are increasingly vocal about equity, and Iowa has leveraged that momentum. Their social media engagement has skyrocketed, with a 120% increase in followers this season alone, and home game attendance is up to around 8,000 fans per game, compared to 4,500 just a couple years ago. As a longtime advocate for women’s basketball, I see this as a positive sign—the more visibility, the harder it is to ignore the talent and effort these athletes bring. Iowa’s staff has also been smart about scheduling tough non-conference games, which I think is crucial for building tournament resilience. They faced three top-10 teams early on and won two of them, proving they can compete at the highest level.
Looking ahead, I’m optimistic about Iowa’s chances in the national championship. They’ve got the balance—offensive creativity, defensive tenacity, and mental toughness—that often separates good teams from great ones. But beyond the X’s and O’s, their story resonates because it’s about overcoming obstacles, both on and off the court. The discrimination hinted at in policies like the one Reyes defended isn’t gone, but programs like Iowa are chipping away at it by succeeding loudly and unapologetically. As we head into March, I’ll be watching closely, and if they maintain this trajectory, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them cutting down the nets. After all, in sports as in life, the most satisfying victories often come from proving the doubters wrong.
