Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Basketball Team Advances to Next Round of March Madness

Hawkeyes to face No. 15 Farleigh Dickinson in first round matchup

Mar. 20, 2026 at 6:20am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team has advanced to the next round of the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament. The Hawkeyes, seeded No. 2, will face No. 15 Farleigh Dickinson on Saturday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET. Led by standout players Ava Heiden, Hannah Stuelke, and Chazadi Wright, the Hawkeyes are looking to make a deep tournament run after being dominated in the Big Ten Championship.

Why it matters

The Hawkeyes are one of the top teams in the country and have their sights set on returning to the national championship game after making it two years ago. A strong tournament performance could help cement Iowa as an elite program and give the team momentum heading into next season.

The details

Iowa will face Farleigh Dickinson, a No. 15 seed, in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament. The game will take place on Saturday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are led by a trio of double-digit scorers in Ava Heiden, Hannah Stuelke, and Chazadi Wright, and will look to bounce back from their Big Ten Championship loss with a deep tournament run.

  • The NCAA women's basketball tournament begins on Friday, March 20.
  • Iowa's first-round game against Farleigh Dickinson is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET.

The players

Ava Heiden

A standout player for the Iowa Hawkeyes, averaging double-digit points this season.

Hannah Stuelke

One of Iowa's leading scorers, also averaging double-digits this season.

Chazadi Wright

The third member of Iowa's trio of double-digit scorers.

Farleigh Dickinson

The No. 15 seed that Iowa will face in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Iowa will look to advance past Farleigh Dickinson and continue their march through the NCAA tournament, with the goal of returning to the national championship game.

The takeaway

The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team is poised for a deep run in the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament, led by their talented trio of scorers and driven by the disappointment of their Big Ten Championship loss. A strong tournament performance could cement Iowa's status as an elite program and give them momentum heading into next season.