Nebraska
Minnesota, Nebraska rise in USA TODAY Sports Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings
Hear from Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen ahead of Hawkeyes at Illinois
Hear from Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen ahead of Hawkeyes at Illinois
Conference play is in full swing for Big Ten women’s basketball, with elite matchups on the docket all throughout each week.
Minnesota and Nebraska are on the rise, and the teams at the top haven’t missed a beat.
Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports Network Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings. Rankings are reflective of games through Jan. 8.
1. UCLA (16-0)
Previously: No. 1
What to know: The Bruins keep rolling right along, having snagged road wins at Indiana and Purdue. UCLA won’t face another nationally ranked team until Jan. 26.
2. USC (15-1)
Previously: No. 2
What to know: The Trojans completed a successful East Coast swing with road wins over Rutgers and Maryland. USC doesn’t have another ranked matchup as of now until Feb. 2.
3. Ohio State (15-0)
Previously: No. 4
What to know: Wednesday’s big road win at Michigan adds significant substance to Ohio State’s hot start. The Buckeyes don’t have another ranked matchup until Jan. 23.
4. Maryland (14-1)
Previously: No. 3
What to know: Wednesday’s home loss to USC was offset some by wins over Rutgers and Iowa since the last rankings. A daunting stretch is upcoming, though, with Maryland set to face three top-10 teams between Jan. 20 and Jan. 26.
5. Minnesota (16-1)
Previously: No. 8
What to know: There are still strength-of-schedule questions, especially considering Minnesota dropped its only ranked matchup so far. But the Golden Gophers continue ripping off wins to balance things out. A Tuesday trek to Maryland will put Minnesota under the microscope.
6. Michigan State (12-3)
Previously: No. 5
What to know: Wednesday’s road loss at Nebraska marked Michigan State’s third loss in its last four games. The Spartans will look to get back on track Sunday versus Washington.
7. Iowa (12-3)
Previously: No. 6
What to know: The home stumble against Maryland was a disappointing one, especially considering many foes don’t escape Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a victory. Looking at current rankings, the Hawkeyes won’t face another top-25 team until Feb. 2. Iowa needs to stack wins until then.
8. Nebraska (12-4)
Previously: No. 10
What to know: The Cornhuskers needed their 2-0 showing since the last poll, after dropping three straight ranked matchups in a 10-day span. Road trips to Rutgers and Iowa are upcoming.
9. Indiana (11-4)
Previously: No. 7
What to know: The Hoosiers gave it a whirl against No. 1 UCLA, but Indiana couldn’t pull out the home upset last weekend. After winning at Northwestern on Wednesday, the Hoosiers have a tricky trip to Iowa on Sunday.
10. Michigan (10-5)
Previously: No. 9
What to know: The Wolverines have suddenly dropped three straight after Wednesday’s upset bid at Ohio State fell short. Michigan has a favorable matchup Saturday at Purdue to get back on schedule.
11. Washington (12-4)
Previously: No. 11
What to know: The Huskies have won five straight but are currently set to face four ranked teams in their next six games.
12. Illinois (11-4)
Previously: No. 12
What to know: The Fighting Illini need some positive momentum after consecutive losses to Washington and Minnesota.
13. Oregon (11-4)
Previously: No. 13
What to know: An upcoming East Coast road swing offers Oregon a chance to climb in the coming days.
14. Wisconsin (10-6)
Previously: No. 14
What to know: Wisconsin is on a four-game losing streak after its West Coast trip to Oregon and Washington produced two losses. Things don’t get any easier with upcoming games against Maryland and Ohio State.
15. Penn State (9-6)
Previously: No. 15
What to know: Already on a four-game losing streak, the path gets even tougher for Penn State with road trips to USC and UCLA lurking.
16. Rutgers (8-8)
Previously: No. 16
What to know: The Scarlet Knights will host Nebraska on Sunday, trying to snap a four-game losing streak.
17. Purdue (7-8)
Previously: No. 17
What to know: Purdue enters Saturday’s game against Michigan on a three-game losing streak.
18. Northwestern (7-9)
Previously: No. 18
What to know: Northwestern will enter its West Coast swing to UCLA and USC on a four-game losing streak.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1930, a new addition was hoisted atop Nebraska’s Capitol Building.
The statue of “The Sower,” modeled after the traditional method of hand-sowing grain for planting, stands 19-and-a-half feet tall.
It was created by New York sculptor Lee Lawrie.
The Sower is represented as a barefoot man, with his sleeves and pant legs rolled up as he works.
It stands as a symbol of the importance of agriculture in Nebraska.
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GRETNA, Neb. (WOWT) – A new recreation area opened Thursday in Gretna, honoring a notable Nebraska Native American while reducing flooding risks.
The Sergeant Mad Bear Recreation Area, located just off 168th and Giles, was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The park is named after Sergeant Mad Bear, a Pawnee warrior who lived in the area during the 1860s. He was wounded in battle and became the first Native American in the country to receive the Medal of Honor.
“This lake that we’re here for is named after one of our soldiers. And a revered soldier,” said Pat Leading Fox, head chief of the Pawnee Nation Chiefs Council.
Honoring Pawnee heritage
Leading Fox said he was honored to see Mad Bear’s name live on at the site.
“He’s a Pawnee member. He’s a member of the band that I represent, Skidi Band, S-K-I-D-I. And to stand here, you know, where he could possibly have, you know, walked, you know, really is touching,” Leading Fox said.
For Leading Fox, the park represents more than a place to relax.
“This is our homeland here so you I always say home, we’re home,” he said.
Dual purpose: recreation and flood control
The park also serves as a flood reservoir, one of many managed by the Papio Missouri River NRD.
“This is part of a larger plan to control flows downstream. It works in conjunction with the levees and with the other reservoirs,” said Ian Ghanavati of the Papio Missouri River NRD.
The reservoir is currently empty but designed to fill with rainwater.
“Where the rock is, where you can kind of see the edge of the earth, that’s where the shoreline will come up to. We just need some rain to fill it,” Ghanavati said.
Community amenity
The empty reservoir has not deterred park visitors, who are already using the area’s other amenities.
Jen Boswell, a park visitor, said she uses the walking trail regularly.
“They just put in the trail from our street down to the path here. So yeah, I try to come down and walk at least three times around,” Boswell said.
Boswell said she is looking forward to using the park more as it develops.
“Walk, play, ride our bikes, scooters around here, fish. I think you could even put maybe like a kayak in here once it’s ready. So it’s going to be a great addition to the area for sure,” she said.
Sergeant Mad Bear is the second reservoir to open in the Papio NRD, following the Forest City Reservoir which opened last fall.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
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