Iowa to face Vanderbilt on November 15 in Sioux City
Iowa’s women’s basketball team will face Vanderbilt on November 15 in Sioux City, offering a high-level test before conference play. Beating a Sweet 16-bound Vanderbilt would strengthen Iowa’s NCAA tournament resume and signal their Big Ten title ambitions.
Iowa women’s basketball fans lit up Tuesday after their team announced a marquee nonconference tilt vs. Vanderbilt on Nov. 15 in Sioux City. The Hawkeyes, coming off a 27-7 season and a second-round NCAA run, will face a Commodores squad that went 29-5 and reached the Sweet 16. The matchup adds a second signature tune-up for next season—after Iowa also locked in a home-and-home with national power UConn.
Social media buzzed with excitement, with fans calling the Vanderbilt game a “great challenge” and a chance to test Iowa’s depth before Big Ten play. Many pointed out that both teams are coming off deep tournament runs, making the November clash a rare early-season taste of top-tier competition. Others joked about the travel perk of Sioux City, an easy hop from Iowa City, while still others predicted a sellout in the smaller market venue.
The scheduling move matters because nonconference wins against elite programs help shape NCAA seeding and national perception. It also gives Iowa another data point before conference play starts. The Hawkeyes already proved they can beat tournament-caliber foes, but beating Vanderbilt would send a clear message to the rest of the Big Ten and the committee alike.
With UConn on the horizon for a two-year series and now Vanderbilt in Sioux City, Coach Lisa Bluder is stacking Iowa’s slate with high-grade opponents. That strategy bodes well for postseason aspirations—and it’s already lighting up fan timelines.
