The regular season finale for the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team arrives with a swirl of anticipation and a dash of adversity, as they travel to Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on March 1, 2026. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT on BTN+, and while the Hawkeyes are closing in on postseason play with a five-game winning streak, they’ll have to do so without their star forward, Hannah Stuelke, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury.
This matchup marks the 82nd meeting between Iowa and Wisconsin, with the Hawkeyes holding a commanding 61-20 edge in the all-time series. If Iowa prevails today, it will be their 32nd consecutive victory over the Badgers—a streak that dates back to the 2006-07 season. That’s a run of dominance that’s hard to ignore! The first meeting between these programs came way back in 1974, and since then, the rivalry has seen its share of drama, though recent history has been decidedly one-sided.
For Iowa, the stakes are clear. With a 23-5 overall record and a 14-3 mark in Big Ten play, the Hawkeyes have already locked up either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, which kicks off March 6 in Indianapolis. This finale isn’t just about extending a streak; it’s about fine-tuning the rotation and building momentum for another postseason run. Iowa has captured four of the last seven Big Ten Tournament titles, including an impressive three-peat from 2022 to 2024. Head coach Jan Jensen, in just her second season at the helm, is on the verge of matching the second-highest regular season win total in program history.
But the Hawkeyes will have to navigate this contest without Stuelke, who suffered her injury during Iowa’s gritty win over Illinois on February 26. That night, Stuelke exited early in the first quarter with what appeared to be a right arm injury, only to return and finish with 18 points in 31 minutes. Despite her resilience, the team has opted to keep her out as a precaution, labeling her as “day-to-day” with hopes she’ll return for the Big Ten Tournament. “Stuelke’s injury isn’t season-altering,” Coach Jan Jensen assured reporters after the Illinois game.
This is the second time Stuelke has been sidelined this season; she also missed the February 19 matchup against Purdue. On the year, Stuelke has been a force, averaging 13.9 points and a career-best 8.7 rebounds per game across 27 contests—all starts—and notching double figures in 23 of those games. Her absence will be felt, but it also opens the door for other Hawkeyes to step up.
Enter freshman Journey Houston, who will make just her second career start in Stuelke’s place. Houston impressed in her previous start against Purdue, putting up 16 points and showing a knack for seizing the moment. For the season, she’s averaging 5.9 points and five rebounds per game, but with expanded minutes, the Hawkeyes hope she can provide a spark. Also expected to see increased roles are Addie Deal, Callie Levin, Teagan Mallegni, and Layla Hays, especially as sophomore center Ava Heiden continues her recovery from illness. This depth could be crucial not just today, but as Iowa heads into tournament play.
The Hawkeyes’ offensive firepower remains formidable, even without Stuelke. They average 78.9 points per game—23rd in the nation—while shooting an efficient 49.6% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc. Their +371 scoring differential is a testament to their ability to outpace opponents, and they average 44.0 points in the paint over their last four games. Chit-Chat Wright, the sophomore point guard, leads the team in assists (119) and made threes (57), though she’s been battling a shooting slump and some cramping issues of late. “The Hawkeyes are going to need her contributions once postseason play commences,” noted one analyst. Taylor Stremlow, another sophomore, has emerged as a key playmaker, while graduate senior Kylie Feuerbach brings experience and stability to the backcourt.
Iowa’s projected starting lineup features Wright, Stremlow, Feuerbach, Houston, and Heiden, with the latter averaging a team-high 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Heiden’s presence inside will be vital, especially with Wisconsin’s defense allowing 36.5 points in the paint during their current eight-game skid.
On the other side, the Wisconsin Badgers (13-15, 5-12 Big Ten) are mired in an eight-game losing streak and sit near the bottom of the conference standings. The Badgers’ last win came over a month ago, on January 21, and their recent performances have been marked by defensive struggles—they allow 72.5 points per game, ranking 323rd nationally. Offensively, Wisconsin averages 69.1 points per game and is particularly dangerous from long range, knocking down 8.5 threes per game at a 34.7% clip—good for 25th in the country.
Wisconsin’s starting five includes Ronnie Porter, Laci Steele, Destiny Howell, Kyrah Daniels, and Gift Uchenna. Howell, a graduate transfer from Howard, is the Badgers’ leading scorer at 14.5 points per game and a lethal three-point shooter (40.0%). She’s had ten games this season with at least three made threes, including a program-record ten triples in a double-overtime win over Oregon. Daniels, a Missouri State transfer, adds 12.5 points per game and is another threat from deep, while Porter orchestrates the offense with a team-high 134 assists and an impressive 2.31 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Despite their record, Wisconsin’s roster features several intriguing pieces. Uchenna, a transfer from Southern Illinois, is a force on the boards, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game and leading the team in blocks. Off the bench, freshman Dorja Zaja has recently found her stride, scoring in double figures in three of her last four games and shooting over 60% from the floor. Senior Lily Krahn and Illinois transfer Shay Bollin round out a rotation that typically goes nine deep, with Krahn providing a deep threat from beyond the arc (46.5% on threes).
For the Badgers, the challenge will be containing Iowa’s inside game and keeping pace offensively. Their defense has struggled during the losing streak, allowing 82.3 points per game and losing by double digits in five of those contests. If they’re to snap Iowa’s 31-game winning streak in the series, they’ll need Howell and Daniels to catch fire from outside and hope to exploit any Hawkeye rotation hiccups caused by Stuelke’s absence.
As the regular season curtain falls, both teams have something to prove. Iowa aims to solidify its postseason credentials and give its younger players valuable experience, while Wisconsin looks to salvage pride and snap a daunting streak. With the Big Ten Tournament looming, today’s contest serves as both a test and a tune-up—a final chance to iron out the wrinkles before the real madness of March begins.
Fans tuning in on BTN+ or filling the seats at the Kohl Center can expect a spirited battle, even if the odds favor the Hawkeyes. One thing’s for sure: with history, streaks, and postseason momentum all on the line, this finale promises to deliver plenty of drama before the tournament lights go up in Indianapolis.