USC Hands Iowa First Big Ten Loss In Los Angeles Stunner

LOS ANGELES – The Iowa women’s basketball team’s dream of a perfect Big Ten campaign came crashing down in southern California on January 29, 2026, as the Hawkeyes suffered a stinging 81-69 defeat to USC at the Galen Center. It was a night of firsts, shocks, and tough lessons for the No. 8-ranked Hawkeyes, who entered the contest riding high on an 8-game winning streak and a flawless 9-0 record in conference play. Instead, it was the Trojans who made history, earning their first victory over Iowa since 1984 and snapping Iowa’s impressive run.

This showdown had all the makings of a classic, but from the opening tip, it was clear that the Hawkeyes were in for a battle. Iowa was playing its first full game without senior guard Taylor McCabe, a steadying force and two-time Final Four veteran, who tore her left ACL in the previous game against Ohio State. Her absence was palpable. As head coach Jan Jensen said after the game, “The importance of a senior leader (McCabe), that’s been to two Final Fours, that’s been a part of championships, that is one of our best defenders … she calms the waters when things like this happen. That’s what we were missing tonight.” (Des Moines Register)

Stepping into the starting lineup for the first time was freshman Addie Deal, a five-star recruit from California. The homecoming, however, was bittersweet. Deal played 17 minutes, grabbed three rebounds, but was held scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting and committed three turnovers. “Addie has always been a confident kid and a confident player,” assistant coach Jensen had said before the game. “I think she understood at the beginning, the game is a little bigger, faster, stronger. I think she kind of loosened that pressure and really succumbed to the process of that — which was easy for her to do — and just let that sequence develop knowing I had the confidence in her.”

The Hawkeyes, who had been slight favorites, never managed to lead in the contest. They quickly found themselves on their heels as USC closed the first quarter on a blistering 13-0 run, leaving Iowa in a 28-13 hole. Ball security was a glaring issue; Iowa coughed up seven turnovers in the opening quarter alone and finished the night with 12, compared to just five by the Trojans. The defensive woes didn’t end there. USC, a team that had averaged just 40.3% shooting this season, torched the Hawkeyes early, hitting 5-of-10 from three-point range in the first quarter and finishing with a 10-of-27 mark (37.0%) from deep.

Despite the rough start, Iowa showed resilience. Sophomore guard Taylor Stremlow provided a spark in the second quarter, draining three straight 3-pointers in just over two minutes and helping Iowa trim what had been an 18-point deficit down to six by halftime. Stremlow ended the night with 11 points and was pivotal in keeping the Hawkeyes within striking distance. At the break, Iowa trailed 43-37, having out-rebounded USC 16-9 in the second quarter and generating 11 bench points to stay afloat.

Freshman Journey Houston emerged as the standout performer for Iowa, coming off the bench to post a career-high 16 points and eight rebounds in just under 26 minutes. Her energy and fearlessness were evident as she attacked the rim, converting 7-of-12 field goals. Houston’s scrappy play offered a glimpse of Iowa’s future, but it was not enough to overcome the Trojans’ relentless attack. Sophomore center Ava Heiden also contributed solidly, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds despite being double-teamed for much of the night.

But every time Iowa threatened to make it a game, USC answered decisively. After Stremlow’s heroics and a behind-the-back assist to Houston cut the deficit to just three at 52-49 midway through the third quarter, the Trojans responded with an 11-0 run, blowing the lead back out and forcing Jensen to call timeout. USC’s offensive duo of Jazzy Davidson and Kara Dunn combined for a staggering 46 points on 16-of-31 shooting. Dunn, a senior, notched a double-double with 12 rebounds, while Davidson, a first-year, dished out eight assists and orchestrated the Trojan offense with poise beyond her years.

Iowa simply couldn’t keep up. The third quarter proved disastrous, with USC outscoring the Hawkeyes 27-14 and stretching the lead to 70-51 heading into the final frame. Senior forward Hannah Stuelke, who had been on a tear in recent weeks, struggled with foul trouble and was limited to just 19 minutes, finishing with 10 points, one rebound, and one assist. “We got on our heels in the first quarter, and when you let a team getting rolling, it’s tough sledding on the road,” Jensen reflected on the postgame radio show (Hawk Fanatic).

In the fourth quarter, Iowa showed some late fight, outscoring USC 18-11, but the gap was simply too wide. Chit-Chat Wright’s deep three-pointer briefly cut the deficit to 15 with just over six minutes remaining, but Kara Dunn immediately responded with an and-one, restoring momentum for the Trojans and effectively sealing the outcome.

The final box score painted a tale of missed opportunities and defensive lapses. Iowa finished shooting 40.3% from the field (27-for-67) and 33.3% from beyond the arc (7-of-21), well below their season averages. The Hawkeyes dominated on the glass, out-rebounding USC 43-32 and posting a massive 32-3 edge in bench points. Yet, the Trojans capitalized on Iowa’s mistakes, scoring 19 points off turnovers and 20 fastbreak points to Iowa’s 10. The Hawkeyes’ offense, usually so fluid and efficient, looked rushed and out of sync without McCabe’s steady hand.

With the loss, Iowa dropped to 18-3 overall and 9-1 in the Big Ten, bringing an end to their historic start—their best since the legendary 1995-96 squad began 12-0 in conference play. USC, meanwhile, improved to 12-9 overall and 4-6 in the Big Ten, earning just their second win over Iowa in seven meetings.

Now, the Hawkeyes must regroup quickly. The California road trip continues with a daunting matchup against No. 2 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday, February 1, at 3 p.m. Central Time on FOX. The Bruins, fresh off a conference tournament title and boasting a 20-1 record, lead the Big Ten and have already bested Iowa twice in their brief history. Senior center Lauren Betts anchors a deep UCLA squad, averaging 16.7 points per game.

For Iowa, the challenge is clear: rediscover their defensive identity, settle the offense without McCabe, and get their young stars comfortable in bigger roles. The Hawkeyes have shown resilience before—can they bounce back on Sunday against one of the nation’s best? The eyes of the Big Ten, and the nation, will be watching.