Iowa Hosts Fairleigh Dickinson in 2026 NCAA Tournament Opener

No. 2 seed Iowa looks to advance past No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the Women's March Madness tournament.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:04am

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The Iowa women's basketball team, led by head coach Jan Jensen, will host Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 21. Fairleigh Dickinson, the Northeast Conference Tournament champion, enters the tournament on a 22-game winning streak, but will face a tough test against the No. 2 seed Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Why it matters

This matchup features a stark contrast in tournament experience, as Iowa is making its 12th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, while Fairleigh Dickinson is making its first tournament appearance since 2023. The Hawkeyes will look to use their home-court advantage and tournament pedigree to advance past the upstart Knights.

The details

Fairleigh Dickinson has been one of the nation's elite defensive teams this season, ranking second nationally in opponents' scoring at just over 51 points per game. The Knights are led by a trio of double-digit scorers in Ava Renninger, Kailee McDonald, and Madlena Gerke. However, Iowa boasts a balanced offensive attack and will look to overwhelm the Knights with their depth and experience.

  • The game will tip off on Saturday, March 21 at 3 p.m. CT.
  • This will be Iowa's first home game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in nearly a month.

The players

Jan Jensen

The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, leading the program to its 12th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Stephanie Gaitley

The head coach of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, guiding the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023.

Ava Renninger

The leading scorer for Fairleigh Dickinson, averaging 12.7 points and 5.2 assists per game.

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What they’re saying

“Fairleigh Dickinson will come out competitive early, but Iowa wins its first game back at Carver in nearly a month.”

— Cooper Worth, Service/Trending Reporter, Des Moines Register

What’s next

The winner of the Iowa vs. Fairleigh Dickinson matchup will advance to face the winner of the UCLA vs. Gonzaga game in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup features a clash of tournament experience, as the seasoned Hawkeyes look to use their home-court advantage to fend off the upstart Knights and their stifling defense. The outcome could set the tone for Iowa's deeper tournament run or signal an early upset by the Cinderella Fairleigh Dickinson squad.