INDIANAPOLIS — This week, fifteen formidable teams from various parts of the nation gathered in Indianapolis, each vying for the coveted 2026 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament title. After an intense four days and thirteen matchups, only two contenders are left standing: the top-seeded UCLA and the second-seeded Iowa.
Together, these two athletic programs have claimed the past four tournament championships, with Iowa securing victories from 2022 to 2024, and UCLA taking the title last year. Despite only joining the Big Ten in 2024, the Bruins are on the verge of becoming just the sixth team to achieve multiple tournament wins in the conference. (Iowa boasts an impressive six Big Ten tournament titles, placing them second historically.)
Here is a comprehensive guide to Sunday’s highly anticipated championship clash.
Finals Matchup: UCLA vs. Iowa
- Game Time: 2:15 p.m. ET | Date: Sunday, March 8
- Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Broadcast Channel: CBS | Live Streaming: Paramount+
Bruins’ Prior Dominance
Their sole encounter this season occurred on February 1st, where UCLA asserted clear control in Los Angeles, achieving an 88-65 victory after holding a lead of up to 27 points. Five Bruins players reached double-digit scoring, and the team impressively shot 58% from the field while compelling 19 turnovers from the Hawkeyes.
To Iowa’s credit, that February matchup was their second away game in a four-day stretch during a West Coast tour, and this Sunday, they will benefit from significant home-crowd support. Nevertheless, the initial game clearly demonstrated UCLA’s remarkable ease in navigating the Big Ten throughout the current season.
Currently holding a 30-1 record and ranked second nationally, the Bruins achieved an unblemished 18-0 run in conference play, with 17 of those triumphs decided by double-digit margins. Incorporating their two tournament wins to date, their record against Big Ten opponents stands at 20-0, featuring 19 victories by ten points or more.
Predictably, UCLA enters Sunday’s contest as the overwhelming favorite.
Iowa’s Surprising Journey: “Nobody in the Country Thought We’d Be Here”
UCLA, featuring six prospects for the 2026 WNBA Draft, began the season as the indisputable favorites in the Big Ten, yet Iowa was not anticipated to be their equal. According to the Big Ten preseason coaches poll, the Hawkeyes weren’t even predicted to finish within the top five.
Just five months later, Iowa now holds a No. 9 national ranking, having secured second place in the Big Ten, and has an opportunity to claim its fourth Big Ten Tournament championship in five seasons.
“I conveyed to [my players] my profound gratitude. We find ourselves in a position that no one outside this immediate circle believed we’d reach. No one truly foresaw this possibility, that we could get here,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen stated on Saturday. “I didn’t realize it until our June preparations began. This squad possesses an undeniable uniqueness.”
“Of course, I understand we face UCLA tomorrow, and they are an exceptional team, featuring 6-foot-7 [Lauren Betts], but for us to be in this position and experience this occasion… I simply encouraged them to relish it and recognize that our inner circle had faith, and now we have an opportunity in the finals of one of America’s most esteemed conferences,” Jensen added.
Teams Prioritizing Internal Focus
Perhaps due to strategic reticence, or merely acknowledging the limited preparation time inherent in tournament play, representatives from both teams declared their intention to concentrate on their own performance as Sunday’s game approaches.
“My honest belief is that it boils down to consistently playing at our peak performance level,” UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker remarked when questioned about the path to victory. “Regardless of our opponent, we maintain certain objectives we aim to achieve every time, be it defensive execution, securing rebounds, or bringing exceptional energy from the start. By being the more aggressive team in these aspects, we position ourselves very favorably.”
Her teammate, Gianna Kneepkens, mirrored these sentiments, stating that “our objective is simply to execute our brand of basketball… if we exert maximum effort, which I am confident we will, the outcome will unfold as it should.”
Within the Iowa locker room, senior forward Hannah Stuelke acknowledged the formidable challenge UCLA presents.
“UCLA possesses numerous exceptional components, and I’m currently uncertain of our precise strategy to counter them,” Stuelke commented. “However, I believe that simply appearing as ourselves, playing with aggression, and committing entirely will be crucial.”
Similarly, Chit-Chat Wright emphasized that the Hawkeyes must adhere to “Iowa basketball” principles to achieve an upset. “It’s about avoiding deviations from our established playstyle and truly concentrating on our scouting report,” she explained.
Iowa’s Challenge Against UCLA’s Height Advantage
Beyond UCLA’s immense talent, their formidable size has been a significant contributor to their triumphs this season. Lauren Betts, at 6-foot-7, is a towering presence, but the Bruins also feature three additional rotation players standing at least 6-foot-4, with no one on their squad shorter than 5-foot-10.
It’s hardly surprising, then, that an early observation from Chit-Chat Wright in Iowa’s locker room regarding UCLA was: “they possess a rather large team.”
Specifically, the Bruins’ considerable stature will present a significant challenge for the 5-foot-4 Wright. Despite her exceptional quickness, Wright is the Big Ten’s second-shortest player and will face two prospective first-round WNBA draft selections in 5-foot-11 Kiki Rice and 5-foot-10 Charlisse Leger-Walker, both adept at leveraging their physical attributes offensively and defensively. In their previous encounter, Wright managed only 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting, whereas Rice and Leger-Walker collectively amassed 27 points on 11-of-19.
Furthermore, UCLA’s superiority in the paint area will undoubtedly create difficulties for Iowa. Lauren Betts, who scored 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the teams’ initial matchup, remains virtually unstoppable nationwide. Yet, the issue extends beyond Betts to the impressive depth UCLA can deploy, with Siena Betts (Lauren’s sister), Angela Dugalić, and Amanda Muse all standing at 6-foot-4. In contrast, Iowa features only three players over six feet tall on their roster, one of whom is freshman Layla Hays, who sees minimal playing time.
The Bruins are second in the country in offensive rebounding rate (44.5%) and fifth in points in the paint per game (43.4). If the Hawkeyes want to pull off an upset, they’ll need to figure out some way to deal with the Bruins around the basket.
Game Outcome Forecast
Iowa has experienced a truly remarkable season, and the advantage of playing this game in Indianapolis before a substantial pro-Hawkeyes audience will undoubtedly be a factor. Nevertheless, UCLA holds its No. 2 national ranking and stands among the top contenders for the national championship for compelling reasons.
The Iowa squad will undoubtedly compete with intense effort and determination, and should the game evolve into a low-possession, grinding affair, they could maintain a competitive edge. Ultimately, however, UCLA’s superior talent, imposing size, and deep roster are expected to be overwhelming, leading the Bruins to successfully defend their Big Ten Tournament title. Prediction: UCLA 72, Iowa 59