The Hawkeyes received 476 points in the initial poll.
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Iowa is joined by eight other Big Ten programs inside the preseason top 25.USCis the Big Ten's highest-ranked team at No. 3. The Trojans are followed by No. 5Michigan, No. 12UCLA, No. 15Washington, No. 17 Maryland, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 20Ohio State, and No. 22 Illinois.
Following a second-round exit in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, theHawkeyesreconstructed their roster by adding four transfer portal players (fourth-year guards Amari Whiting and Bria Medina, third-year guard Dani Canegie, and second-year wing Jocelyn Faison). Iowa also signed first-year forwards Ella Strömdahl and McKenna Woliczko.
The Hawkeyes return a core that features Chit-Chat Wright, Ava Heiden, Taylor Stremlow, and Journey Houston.
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Here's a look at the full preseason USA TODAY Sports women's basketball coaches poll:
Baylor 44; Arizona State 42; Nebraska 40; Tennessee 20; Michigan State 18; Gonzaga 15; South Dakota State 11; Oregon 9; Oregon State 8; Villanova 5; Rice 5; Princeton 4; Texas Tech 3; James Madison 3; Florida 3; Virginia 2; Kansas 2; Fairfield 2; Clemson 2;
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
McKenna Woliczko stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Jocelyn Faison stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Bria Medina stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Jocelyn Faison, Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright and Dani Carnegie stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Layla Hays and Ava Heiden stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Dani Carnegie stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Journey Houston stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen speaks to reporters Oct. 13, 2026 during the Iowa women’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/19
Iowa women's basketball cracks top 10 in preseason Coaches Poll rankings
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/19
Iowa women's basketball cracks top 10 in preseason Coaches Poll rankings
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
3/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
4/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
5/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
6/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
7/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
8/19
ESPN features Iowa's Woliczko among top freshman impact rankings
McKenna Woliczko stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
9/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
10/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
11/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Jocelyn Faison stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
12/19
Iowa women's basketball earns No. 10 ranking in preseason AP Top 25 poll
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
13/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Bria Medina stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
14/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Jocelyn Faison, Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright and Dani Carnegie stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
15/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Layla Hays and Ava Heiden stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
16/19
ESPN tabs Iowa women's basketball guard among top 20 impact transfers
Dani Carnegie stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
17/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Journey Houston stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
18/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
19/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen speaks to reporters Oct. 13, 2026 during the Iowa women’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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