Iowa
Iowa women’s basketball unleashes offensive clinic, ends skid with rout of Washington
Lucy Olsen has a perfect night in Iowa’s 85-61 win over Washington
The Iowa senior went 8-for-8 from the field and scored 20 points with six assists, three days after a tough outing at Oregon.
SEATTLE, Wash. − Tension was escalating for the Iowa women’s basketball team in the final day of its trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Could the Hawkeyes finally put a five-game losing streak to rest? Or would the redeye flight home be filled with more anxiety, more questions?
As one successful flick after another from 3-point range swished through the nets at Alaska Airlines Arena, the smiles returned.
The high-powered scoring returned.
Lucy Olsen’s high-level play returned.
And the losing streak was dead.
The Hawkeyes unleashed a first-half shooting barrage to wipe away five games of frustration and kept it rolling to defeat host Washington, 85-61, in a clinical performance they desperately needed Wednesday night.
“We were sick of losing,” Iowa center Addison O’Grady said. “We wanted to leave here with one win, and we got it done tonight.”
At one point, the Hawkeyes had made 14 straight shots spanning nearly 15 minutes of game clock from early in the second quarter to midway through the third. It was that kind of night for the visitors, who shot 72% for the game (an efficient 33-for-46).
“On top of it being a win, it was just so good to see everyone play well and everyone play together,” Iowa junior Taylor McCabe said. “Just all of our weapons and pieces finally coming together and showing our stuff. I can’t stop smiling, honestly.”
Fittingly, it was McCabe who delivered Iowa’s first 3-pointer that provided a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Her laser from deep put Iowa in front, 11-9, and the Hawkeyes (down 9-4 early) were just getting started.
Then Olsen connected from 3 (a theme for the night) to aid Iowa’s 26-point first quarter.
Then Affolter, Olsen and McCabe went deep to start the second quarter, boosting Iowa’s lead to 35-14.
Then McCabe. Then Olsen. Then, Teagan Mallegni rattled home her first deep shot for a commanding 48-20 Hawkeyes advantage with 2:30 left in the second quarter. (Remember, Iowa scored just 49 total points at Oregon on Sunday.)
Mallegni had been 0-for-11 from 3 in 2025 until that make.
In other words, everyone was hitting.
Iowa finished the first half a perfect 8-for-8 from 3-point range, and coupled with O’Grady’s smooth interior work, the halftime edge was a commanding 50-26.
The only question from there was how tenuous would Iowa’s lead become?
The answer: Not one bit.
Taylor McCabe: ‘I can’t stop smiling’ after Iowa dominates Washington
The Hawkeyes’ junior guard had 11 points and was a big piece of an offensive clinic in an 85-61 rout of the host Huskies.
Second-half collapses had defined Iowa’s two most recent losses, including Sunday’s 50-49 setback at Oregon to kick off this first long-distance road trip in the new Big Ten.
But the offensive onslaught continued, as another Olsen 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the third quarter pushed Iowa’s accuracy to 9-for-9 from deep and the lead to an incredible 65-34.
Olsen would finish with 20 points, three nights after a forgettable performance in a 50-49 loss at Oregon and her best total as a Hawkeye since scoring 25 vs. Iowa State on Dec. 11. The Villanova transfer went 8-for-8 from the floor and added six assists. O’Grady was a force down low with 17 points, her most ever in a Big Ten game. Kylie Feuerbach (12 points, 6-for-8 shooting) and McCabe (11 points) also finished in double figures.
“We were just trying to be perfect and do everything right, because we were losing,” Olsen said. “And we all want to win. So we’re like, ‘We gotta fix this, we gotta fix that.’ … Tonight, we’re like, ‘Let’s just go out and play and see what happens.’”
Jan Jensen’s postgame relief, thoughts after Iowa trounces Washington
Iowa coach Jan Jensen discusses why the Hawkeyes played well in this matchup, an 85-61 rout of the Huskies.
While it may sound silly to place NCAA Tournament implications on a Jan. 22 game, both teams were trying to collect a potential bubble-tipping victory. According to ESPN’s Charlie Crème, the premier bracketologist on the women’s side, Iowa and Washington entered Wednesday’s contest among the “Last Four In” the 68-team NCAA field.
Iowa, which entered the game at a respectable No. 37 in the NCAA NET rankings (Washington was No. 46), made sure it collected its first Quad 1 win of the season. The Hawkeyes (now 13-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten) had been 0-5 in such games previously. Washington fell to 13-7, 4-4.
Had Iowa lost, it would’ve encountered its first six-game losing streak since January 1999, when Angie Lee was the head coach and Jan Jensen was still a Drake assistant under Lisa Bluder. Instead, Jensen got to see her team relax and smile again.
“We just kept talking about, ‘The breakthrough is coming.’ And they believed,” Jensen said. “There’s a lot of basketball left to be played. A lot of great opponents. The Big Ten is so tough. But I love how they’ve been showing up. And I’m just so happy they got a win, because they’ve been close and didn’t fall their way. And tonight, it was nice that it fell their way.”
Up next, a nice break after the redeye flight from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport that was scheduled to land in the early-morning hours in Cedar Rapids. The Hawkeyes don’t play again until Tuesday’s 7 p.m. home contest vs. Northwestern. That will allow more time for junior forward Hannah Stuelke, the team’s leading rebounder who missed a second straight game with a concussion, to have a chance to return.
Why Addison O’Grady had a big game in Iowa’s win at Washington
The Iowa senior scored 17 points against the Huskies and described the vanishing pressure off this Hawkeye team.
Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 30 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports Network. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Year in Iowa. Join Chad’s text-message group (free for subscribers) at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts. Follow @ChadLeistikow on X.
Fort Dodge Donnybrook champion Dru Ayala
Hear why Fort Dodge’s Donnybrook Champion Dru Ayala, brother of Drake Ayala, chose the Hawkeyes and has unfinished business in high school
Iowa State wrestling has added another lightweight through the transfer portal, earning the commitment of former Hawkeye Dru Ayala on Wednesday, May 13.
Ayala has been with the Hawkeyes for two seasons, with an 11-4 record as a true freshman and not competing in 2025-26. The 125-pounder will have at least three years of eligibility remaining.
“Grateful for where I’ve been, excited for where I’m going. Go Cyclones,” Ayala said in an Instagram post.
Before his time in Iowa, Ayala was a four-time state medalist with Fort Dodge. He made the state semifinals all four years and had a 153-16 record. He is the brother of former Hawkeye wrestler Drake Ayala, who recently accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Cyclones.
Iowa State has had multiple major departures with Anthony Echemendia, Christian Castillo, Daniel Herrera and others heading to the transfer portal. As a result, the Cyclones have been busy adding to the roster, with Dru Ayala joining Ayden Smith (Rutgers), Brayden Thompson (Oklahoma State) and Rin Sakamoto (Oklahoma State).
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
Here are the top 2026 midterm races to follow in Iowa
Des Moines Register Chief Politics Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel breaks down Iowa’s top races ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Two candidates are running for the Iowa House District 22 seat encompassing Norwalk, Carlisle, Cumming and Martensdale.
First-term Republican Rep. Samantha Fett faces a challenge from Democrat Rory Taylor, who she defeated in 2024 to fill the open seat.
Both candidates are unopposed for their party’s nomination.
To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal, statewide and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
The primary election is scheduled for June 2.
Click below to see learn more about the candidates and where they stand on key issues:
| Bios | Top issue | Education | Taxes | Cancer rates | Eminent domain | Budget deficits |
- Political party: Republican.
- Age: 46.
- Residence: Carlisle.
- Occupation: Marketing and communications director for Inspired Life Inc.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Drake University.
- Political experience: Moms for Liberty – Warren County, Carlisle School Board member 2019-2021, Warren County Central Committee member, Capitol Region Republican Women, Iowa Federation of Republican Women, National Federation of Republican Women.
Who is Rory Taylor?
- Political party: Democrat.
- Age: 65.
- Residence: Norwalk.
- Occupation: Retired.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, minor in political science, Iowa State University.
- Political experience: Bevington City Council.
Fett (R): My top issue is strengthening Iowa’s education system. I believe parents should have a leading voice in their children’s education because families want meaningful options. I support high academic standards, safe learning environments and policies that protect children while ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. I will work on policies that continue to focus on all students reaching their potential through measurable, objective achievements and by expanding and enhancing the supply of creative education. Education shapes the next generation, and it remains my highest priority.
Taylor (D): Water quality in our state. We need to increase monitoring the water sources we use for our drinking water. Our nitrate levels are in direct correlation to our cancer rates in the state. We need to work with our farmers to mitigate the problem, not blame them for it!
Taylor (D): We need to restructure the voucher program. Students with financial needs could be accommodated, but not the wealthiest of our population. We need to provide more funding for our AEAs and improvement in teacher pay. Bring back our industrial arts programs.
Fett (R): I support policies that put students and families first. That includes strengthening parental rights, expanding educational options and making sure all education models — public schools, homeschool, private and public charter schools — can succeed. I also support a balanced approach to digital learning, since excessive screen time can affect attention and academic progress. I believe Iowa should set developmentally appropriate limits on digital instruction and prioritize strong foundational skills like reading, writing and real classroom connection so every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Fett (R): I support Iowa’s recent tax changes because the state was collecting far more than it needed. With full reserves, a $2 billion ending balance, and over $4 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund, returning money to Iowans is the responsible choice. The 3.8% rate keeps Iowa competitive, and temporary revenue dips were planned for. Looking ahead, I would support additional tax law changes that continue this philosophy: keeping government efficient, ensuring strong reserves and returning excess dollars to taxpayers.
Taylor (D): I do not support all the tax changes. I believe moving Iowa’s tax structure for both corporate and income to be more progressive. This would raise taxes on corporations, higher-income individuals and lower taxes on lower-income individuals.
Taylor (D): Water quality standards: Strengthen, enforce and monitor water quality standards to reduce carcinogens like nitrates and PFAS from agricultural runoff.
Fett (R): I support practical, targeted actions that reduce known risks and strengthen research. Iowa is a major radon hotspot, and radon exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer. House File 2297 is an important step requiring passive radon mitigation. A cost-effective protection helps ensure families aren’t unknowingly exposed to dangerous levels. I support the pediatric cancer research bill, which provides dedicated funding to advance research and improve outcomes for Iowa children. This investment and reducing environmental risks give Iowa a stronger and more effective path to lowering cancer rates. Chemical regulation: Improve monitoring of pesticides and fertilizer application, ensuring public health is central to agricultural policy. Radon mitigation: Fund widespread radon testing. Protect Medicaid expansion, which supports cancer screening and care for over 180,000 Iowans. HPV vaccine access: Protect access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to prevent future cancer.
Fett (R): Protecting private property rights is essential. Based on that standard, I do not support using eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines, as these projects do not meet the threshold of traditional public use infrastructure and raise significant concerns for landowners. I have consistently opposed the misuse of eminent domain and will continue standing with Iowa landowners on this issue.
Taylor (D): Public projects, such as infrastructure (highways, bridges) and utilities. And as long as there is fair compensation and due process.
Taylor (D): Voucher program would be a start. And the tax cuts that have been made haven’t stimulated the economy as the Republican Party has suggested they would. I don’t see any other cuts I would suggest. The key is tax revenue, and what we have in place now isn’t working!
Fett (R): Iowa’s recent revenue dip was fully expected when income taxes were reduced. I support a disciplined, responsible approach to budgeting that ensures we fund key priorities like public schools, nursing homes and public safety while still allowing Iowans to keep more of what they earn. The Taxpayer Relief Fund was created specifically to manage temporary revenue decreases during tax reform, providing stability without jeopardizing essential services. My focus is on maintaining disciplined budgeting so Iowa continues meeting its obligations without over taxing families.
Read more about the midterm candidates at: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/news/elections/.
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — After a 65-year football coaching career, longtime NFL offensive coordinator Tom Moore’s most recent stop comes full circle — the University of Iowa.
Before Moore coached Hall of Fame receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth to Super Bowl titles in the late 1970s or guided quarterback Peyton Manning to multiple MVP awards, he played quarterback at Iowa in the 1950s and became a graduate assistant in 1961-62. Now, the 87-year-old Moore will work as a senior consultant to coach Kirk Ferentz and as an offensive adviser.
“I have known Tom Moore for over a decade and am thrilled that he has agreed to join our program in an advisory role,” Ferentz said in a statement. “Coach Moore has had a long and very successful career in football. He was a player at Iowa, coached at the collegiate level and spent many years working alongside Hall of Fame coaches in the National Football League. I am grateful that a four-time Super Bowl champion will share his wisdom and perspectives with us — coaches and players.”
Moore played for Hall of Fame coach Forest Evashevski and was a backup on the 1960 team that tied for the Big Ten title and was named national champion by three different outlets. Following his time as a graduate assistant, Moore spent two years in the United States Army before working for more than a decade as a college assistant. He moved to the NFL in 1977 as the Pittsburgh Steelers receivers coach and later as offensive coordinator under Chuck Noll.
Following stints with the Vikings, Lions and Saints, Moore became the Colts’ offensive coordinator in 1998, where he worked with Manning and helped Indianapolis reach two Super Bowls, winning one title. After stops with the Jets, Titans and Cardinals, Moore spent the last seven years as an offensive consultant with Tampa Bay, where he worked with Tom Brady to win another Super Bowl following the 2020 season.
Moore, who was an honorary team captain at Iowa for a game in 2018, has frequently spent time with the Iowa program and offered recommendations when attending practice. When current New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy, at the time a wide receiver, carried the ball on the scout team, Moore suggested Tracy make a permanent position switch. Tracy declined the move until his final year at Purdue, and he has since led the Giants in rushing in his first two seasons in the NFL.
At Iowa, Moore will join his former Colts protégé, Jay Norvell, who coaches running backs. Norvell worked under Moore as wide receivers coach from 1998 until 2001.
“You talk about a guy that’s forgot more football than most people know,” Norvell said about Moore. “It’s just a complete blessing.”
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