The Iowa women's basketball program has shifted its focus to the 2029 recruiting class, and isn't shying away from offering the top prospects in the class.
Jensen and her staff recently ventured south to Kansas to make an offer to Harper Winter, Kansas' current No. 1 overall prospect. ESPN currently ranks Winter as a four-star prospect (92 overall grade) and the No. 15 overall prospect in the class. The program isn't stopping there, offering the top overall prospect in the class with a massive recruiting fight on the horizon.
Iowa offered Kristen Winston, the top overall prospect in the 2029 class
Jan Jensen and her staff haven't been afraid to take big swings on the recruiting trail, snagging five-star recruits in back-to-back recruiting cycles, including Addie Deal (2025) and McKenna Woliczko (2026). The program has also added multiple four-star prospects over the past few cycles, including Journey Houston (2025), Layla Hays (2025), and Jada Seubert (2027). Iowa's on-court success has definitely helped on the recruiting trail, and the program will need all the help it can get to reel in the top overall prospect in the 2029 class.
After a great call with @CoachLBarrett I am grateful to announce that I have received an offer from Coach Jenson @goiowa and @IowaWBB! Thank you for believing in me! 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/PHZNoezlyL
— Kristen Winston (@kristenw_2029) July 22, 2026
Kristen Winston, a Birmingham, Alabama, native, announced she received an offer from assistant coach Lasondra Barrett and the Hawkeyes, proving Barrett has been extremely valuable in recruiting players from the South after joining the staff from Georgia Tech. Winston currently plays for Hoover High School in Birmingham, and ESPN currently ranks her as the No. 1 guard prospect and the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2029 class. Winston has already received offers from multiple big-time women's basketball programs, including Alabama, Indiana, Miami, North Carolina, and Notre Dame, and the list will continue to grow.
Winston has all the tools in her toolbelt on the offensive end of the floor, including a smooth jump shot and an elite ability to get to the rim and finish in a variety of ways. She can pull up from mid-range, get all the way to the basket, or hit floaters over the top, proving she can be a three-level scorer. She also has good handles and solid vision from the lead guard spot. It is still early in the 2029 recruiting cycle, but Winston is already ranked as the top prospect and could easily become a five-star when it's all said and done.
Jan Jensen has proven that she will take massive swings on the recruiting trail, but if she lands Winston, she could easily be one of the top recruits the program has seen next to Caitlin Clark in the 2020 class. She has shown elite potential early in her amateur career, and even if is be an uphill battle to bring her to Iowa City, she will be worth every penny if Jensen pulls it off. Winston is the sixth player the Hawkeyes have offered in the 2029 class as they continue to aggressively pursue the top talent in the class and set the groundwork for a class that is still multiple years out.
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