Hawkeye Hosts: Iowa women’s basketball steady in new ESPN Bracketology

The Iowa Hawkeyes picked up a nice Big Ten road win against Northwestern that required some toughness and grit, but could serve as a turning point for this team to show they have the mental toughness to handle whatever the Big Ten throws at them.

The goal for the Hawkeyes this season is not just to return to the NCAA Women’s Tournament, something that they have become a mainstay in over the last half-decade, but to get to be a host site and do some damage advancing.

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With Iowa holding onto a seed worthy of hosting, check out the latest bracketology from ESPN.

Iowa center Ava Heiden (5) shoots a free throw against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Jan. 1, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

Bracket

Dec 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) shoots over Long Beach State Beach guard Khylee Pepe (13) at Pauley Pavilion

No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 CA Baptist

No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Georgia

No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Marshall

No. 4 Iowa vs. No. 13 UNLV

No. 6 NC State vs. No. 11 North Dakota State

No. 7 Nebraska vs. No. 10 Fairfield

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Howard

Top Seeds

Dec 20, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma stands on the court during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Pamela Smith-Imagn Images

No. 1 seeds: UConn, Texas, UCLA, South Carolina,

No. 2 seeds: Louisville, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Oklahoma

No. 3 seeds: TCU, Iowa State, LSU, Maryland

No. 4 seeds: Texas Tech, Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan

Bubble Watch

Georgia women’s basketball’s Savannah Henderson (2), Miyah Verse (4), Rylie Theuerkauf (14), Vera Ojenuwa (22) and Jocelyn Faison (1) during the Lady Bulldogs’ game against Texas A&M at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

Last Four Byes: Georgia, Arizona State, Mississippi State, Utah

Last Four In: South Dakota State, BYU, Virginia, Villanova

First Four Out: Clemson, Syracuse, Kansas, Richmond

Next Four Out: Miami, Indiana, Seton…

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Publish date : 2026-01-06 19:45:00

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