Big Ten newcomers USC and UCLA will visit Iowa City in 2024-25

Hawkeyes will face Nebraska (and only Nebraska) twice next season

IOWA CITY — It’s Nebraska twice. USC and UCLA for a likely (and extremely challenging) weekend home stand. And a trip to the Pacific Northwest.

The Big Ten released its 2024-25 opponent assignments for women’s basketball Tuesday morning.

Each league team will play 18 games, and with the Big Ten expanded to 18 teams, that means 16 “single-plays” and a home-and-away with just one rival.

For three-time defending Big Ten tournament champion Iowa, that double-play is with Nebraska.

USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon are new to the Big Ten next season, and both of the two Los Angeles teams are possible preseason top-five teams.

USC sophomore-to-be JuJu Watkins is an early candidate to follow Iowa’s departed Caitlin Clark as national player of the year.

The Trojans and the Bruins both travel to Iowa City. The Hawkeyes play both Washington and Oregon on the road.

Iowa is coming off back-to-back trips to the NCAA championship game. The Hawkeyes won a school-record 34 games last season.

Two starters return in senior Sydney Affolter and junior Hannah Stuelke. Iowa also landed Villanova’s Lucy Olsen via the transfer portal and welcomes a strong freshman class headed by post Ava Heiden.

Dates, times and television information will be announced in early fall.

Iowa women’s basketball, 2024-25

Big Ten home and away — Nebraska

Big Ten home only — Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin

Big Ten away only — Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Washington

Non-conference (so far)

Nov. 10 — Virginia Tech (Ally Tipoff, at Charlotte, N.C.)

Nov. 16 — Kansas (at Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Dec. 7 — Tennessee (at Brooklyn, N.Y.)

TBA — Iowa State (home)

TBA — At Drake

TBA — Northern Iowa (home)

Five non-conference other games are yet to be disclosed.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com