Iowa has never beaten Vanderbilt in four meetings, and the challenge gets even tougher this time. The No. 10 Hawkeyes are preparing to face an unbeaten No. 8 Commodores team in Sioux City. With a first win against Vanderbilt on the line, head coach Jan Jensen is hoping to get some extra help from the stands. She wants Hawkeye fans to fill the arena, make some noise and give her team the support it needs to take down a top-10 opponent.
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In a post on X, she wrote: “Hey, Western Iowa Hawk Fans…and any resident anywhere coming to Sioux City, IA tomorrow! We’re on our way to see AND hear you tomorrow! Let’s Beat Vanderbilt-Together!!!! Go Hawks!!!!”
The comment section was filled with excitement, as fans welcomed Jan Jensen and promised to bring plenty of noise to the arena. One fan wrote, “Drove from Iowa City! Wouldn’t miss it! Gonna get loud! Let’s go!!” The response showed how eager Hawkeye supporters were to travel to Sioux City and cheer for their team.
Taking Iowa’s women’s basketball team outside Iowa City is not new. The Hawkeyes have played away from home before, beating Kansas 71-58 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, during Jensen’s first season. But Sunday’s game brings a different challenge. Iowa has never beaten Vanderbilt, losing all four previous meetings. The two teams are meeting for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
Although the game is listed as a neutral-site matchup, Iowa is hoping to make the most of its home-state support. The Tyson Events Center is about 290 miles from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, giving fans in western Iowa a chance to watch the team without making the longer trip east.
The excitement goes beyond the game itself. Fans can attend the free Hawkeye Hoops Huddle from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Long Lines Family Recreation Center before heading to the arena. Registration is required. The game is scheduled to tip off at noon, although early announcements listed a 3 p.m. start.
The game is also part of a bigger effort to bring the Hawkeyes closer to fans across Iowa. The men’s team will face Creighton in Des Moines at 2 p.m. on Sunday, while the women’s team takes on Vanderbilt in Sioux City. According to Hawk Fanatic, the two games give Iowa a chance to promote its basketball program in central and northwestern parts of the state.
Jan Jensen is now in her third season as head coach after taking over from Lisa Bluder. Last season, Iowa finished with a 27-7 record but lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. This season, the Hawkeyes have started 3-1. They lost to No. 2 UConn by 12 points after falling 27 points behind, but bounced back with a convincing 78-40 win over Northern Iowa on Thursday. Their defense has also been impressive, holding three of their first four opponents to 45 points or fewer.
Vanderbilt, however, brings a very different challenge. The Commodores are unbeaten at 4-0 and are averaging 103.8 points per game. They have also scored more than 100 points in every game this season. Much of that success comes from Mikayla Blakes, who led the nation in scoring last season. She is averaging 22 points per game and has already scored 1,775 career points, including two games with more than 50 points. Mia Woolfolk is another threat, averaging 19.5 points. Iowa transfer? No, Oklahoma State transfer Amari Whiting is expected to take on the difficult job of guarding Blakes.
There is also an interesting connection between the two teams. Last season, Georgia shocked Vanderbilt with a 76-74 win, led by Dani Carnegie’s 29 points. Woolfolk also scored 19 for Vanderbilt. Both players transferred in April, with Carnegie joining Iowa and Woolfolk moving to Vanderbilt. Carnegie has made a strong start at her new school, scoring 22 points against Northern Iowa and reaching 1,000 career points. She currently leads Iowa with 16.8 points per game, while center Ava Heiden is averaging 13.0.
Carnegie’s experience against Vanderbilt could also help Iowa on Sunday. She has already beaten the Commodores and knows Woolfolk’s game from their time together at Georgia. Now, the former teammates will find themselves on opposite sides, each hoping to help her new team win.
The men’s team’s overtime loss earlier in the week showed how difficult it can be to win at the Tyson Events Center. The women’s team now faces an even bigger test against an unbeaten top-10 opponent. But Jan Jensen will also have something she wanted: a loud crowd ready to support the Hawkeyes. And if Iowa can finally beat Vanderbilt, the victory could make the trip to Sioux City even more special for the players and their fans.