Jan Jensen isn't shying away from challenging her squad early and often next season, and coupled with a tough Big Ten road schedule, the Hawkeyes definitely have their work cut out for them.
The non-conference schedule is a good time to not only challenge yourself early, but also to add resume-building wins in the process. Iowa had a fairly easy non-conference schedule last season, and it might have cost them later in the year. This season, Jensen and the program aren't messing around, and a tough non-conference schedule is exactly what the team needs to quickly mesh.
With that in mind, we picked four of the most intriguing non-conference games on Iowa's schedule this season before they jump into Big Ten play.
Iowa at UConn - Storrs/Hartford, CT (Nov. 8)
Very early in the offseason, the Hawkeyes locked in an intriguing home-and-away matchup with women's college basketball blue-blood UConn. UConn has won an impressive 12 National Championships, the last in 2025, and the Hawkeyes face them on the road early in the 2025-2026 season. Iowa traveled to New York last season to test their mettle against UConn, which was ranked No. 1 overall at the time. To say the game didn't go well might be an understatement.
The Huskies scored a massive 41 points off 26 Iowa turnovers and dominated in every facet of the game in a 90-64 win at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Now with the game shifting to Connecticut, the Hawkeyes face a massive early test away from home. The Huskies lost two key players to the WNBA after last season (Azzi Fudd, Serah Williams), but Sarah Strong is back and is considered one of the best players in the country.
This game is very intriguing because of how early it is and where it is located, and the Hawkeyes have only three games to prepare for a tough UConn squad on the road.
Iowa vs. Vanderbilt - Sioux City, IA (Nov. 15)
With star guard Mikayla Blakes leading the way, Vanderbilt has become an SEC powerhouse. The Commodores finished last season with an impressive 29-5 (13-3 SEC) record, earning a second-place finish in the SEC. They reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Notre Dame. Blakes led the nation in scoring (27.1), breaking Vanderbilt's single-season program record, and was also named a First-Team All-American and the SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore last season.
Blakes is primed to repeat her exceptional sophomore season, giving Iowa's guards a nightmare matchup a week after facing off against UConn on the road. The Commodores had four players average double digits last season, but Justine Pissott (Las Vegas Aces) and Sacha Washington (Atlanta Dream) are now in the WNBA. If the Hawkeyes can slow down Blakes and take away Aubrey Galvan, they have a good chance to win in Sioux City, but it won't be easy.
Blakes will be one of the best players in the SEC and in the country again this season, and she has a clear size and skill advantage over Iowa's guards. Amari Whiting or Jocelyn Faison are Iowa's best options to limit her production, but it will be a very interesting matchup, slightly away from home.
The Baha Mar Hoops Tournament - Nassau, Bahamas (Nov. 23-25)
Iowa's final opponents and schedule for the Baha Mar Hoops Tournament haven't been released, but the tournament presents a unique early challenge for the Hawkeyes. Tournament play is never easy, and it is a good way for the Hawkeyes to test their new-look squad in a new place. Iowa participated in the WBCA Showcase last season and is joining their second tournament in as many seasons.
Both of Iowa's current potential opponents in the Tournament (Toledo, Utah) had down years last season, but with a new year come new expectations. If Iowa wants to be better prepared for the Big Ten Conference schedule, participating in these types of tournaments early is a necessity. It will be interesting to see who Iowa matches up with, but regardless, playing in tournaments is a great way to test your abilities.
Iowa vs. Iowa State - Iowa City, IA (Dec. 9)
Iowa lost a disappointing game to the Cyclones last season and is definitely out for revenge this season. While this year's matchup likely won't be as exciting as past games, the Cy-Hawk rivalry is always a unique challenge. The Cyclones' roster was gutted after an epic collapse to finish last season, including star post player Audi Crooks and Abby Brown.
Both squads are in rebuild mode, but Iowa is much further along than Iowa State. Iowa added multiple key players in the transfer portal and five-star prospect McKenna Woliczko via the 2026 recruiting class, giving the Hawkeyes a distinct advantage in the matchup. There is no doubt that Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be sold out for the matchup, and Iowa should knock off the Cyclones in early December.
If Iowa falters even slightly, the game could easily shift, and with a rebuilding Iowa State squad, the Hawkeyes need to crush their spirits early.
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