Takeaways as Virginia upsets Iowa women’s basketball, denies Sweet 16

A terrific Iowa girls’s basketball (27-7, 15-3 Massive Ten) season resulted in surprising style on Monday afternoon.

After incomes the fitting to host the NCAA Event’s first two rounds, Tenth-seeded Virginia (22-11, 11-7 ACC) invaded Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment and surprised the Hawkeyes on their residence flooring with an 83-75 double time beyond regulation win.

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Iowa had probabilities to advance to a fifth Candy 16 in seven seasons, however the Hoos simply would not go away. And a few crucial Iowa errors saved the door open for a Virginia crew that turns into the primary crew in girls’s NCAA Event historical past to start within the First 4 and advance to the Candy 16.

Because the season closes, here is takeaways from the loss to Virginia:

One other sluggish begin doomed Iowa girls’s basketball

Iowa closed its 2025-26 season failing to attain greater than 28 factors within the first half of its remaining 4 video games. Sluggish offensive begins turned a troubling pattern down the stretch, and the Hawkeyes’ sluggish begin on Monday proved to be one of many causes its season ended prematurely.

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Iowa could not join from 3-point vary

Iowa did not shoot it properly sufficient to advance. The Hawkeyes completed simply 5-of-29 from 3-point vary, whereas Virginia knocked down 9-of-27 from past the arc.

Ultimately, that was one of many important figuring out elements.

The free-throw line

Sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright had a golden alternative to assist Iowa sneak into the Candy 16 on the finish of the primary time beyond regulation, however Wright was simply 2-of-4 on the free-throw line. It was uncharacteristic for Wright, who entered Monday as an 85.9% free-throw shooter on the season.

Perhaps it was drained legs. Perhaps a few of it was the second. Perhaps it was simply unlucky on the finish of time beyond regulation and the definition of an upset.

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However, Iowa additionally misplaced this sport on the free-throw line. Senior ahead Hannah Stuelke was simply 1-of-6 on the free-throw line and the Hawkeyes completed 8-of-16 as a crew.

Late-game execution was missing

Jan Jensen should look within the mirror this offseason. Iowa’s offensive execution to finish regulation wasn’t adequate.

The Hawkeyes had an opportunity for a buzzer-beating bucket, however Iowa’s remaining possession to finish the fourth quarter wound up discombobulated and resulted in sophomore Chit-Chat Wright taking a desperation 17-foot turnaround jumper.

Iowa has to have the ability to draw up higher than that if it needs to contend for and win championships. And possibly Iowa did draw up higher than that, however the execution did not match it. Extra on this in a second.

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Kylie Feuerbach’s protection gave Iowa an opportunity

Kylie Feuerbach selected to return for this 2025-26 season. Feuerbach’s presence offered one other regular, veteran hand to go together with fellow seniors Stuelke, Taylor McCabe and Jada Gyamfi.

On a number of events down the stretch, Feuerbach’s protection almost despatched Iowa off to the Candy 16. Feuerbach drew the robust task of making an attempt to decelerate Virginia junior guard Kymora Johnson.

Johnson nonetheless bought hers with 28 factors on 7-of-20 taking pictures, however Feuerbach made life tough for Johnson and blocked Johnson’s shot because the fourth quarter approached its remaining minute to offer the Hawkeyes an opportunity to flee.

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Finally, simply not fairly sufficient.

Iowa must grow to be extra balanced as a program

Again to that remaining possession of the fourth quarter the place Iowa may have received it on the buzzer.

It appeared like the top of regulation snuck up on Wright. For somebody who completed with 21 factors, Wright did not look like in assault mode. As an alternative, it appeared like Wright was able to defer to a post-entry feed.

Iowa’s bigs had been sensational all season lengthy. Sophomore middle Ava Heiden and Stuelke had been each named WBCA All-America crew finalists. It has been the spine of this crew and a defining attribute.

On Monday, it felt like one of many issues, although, too. Iowa turned overly reliant on that duo, taxing its bigs with constantly needing to ship with out sufficient assist from its backcourt.

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It is OK and shall be anticipated for Heiden and for incoming five-star freshman McKenna Woliczko to proceed to be a giant a part of the bedrock of the Hawkeyes’ program. However, they can not be counted upon to do it alone.

Iowa must get higher in its backcourt. This system must grow to be extra balanced throughout the board. And the teaching employees must demand and count on that from its backcourt.

Hats off to the seniors, thanks for a enjoyable season

McCabe and Feuerbach performed quite a lot of nice basketball for the Hawkeyes. Gyamfi was an emotional chief for this program over a lot of years and it is disappointing she, like McCabe, could not keep wholesome to shut her profession.

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Stuelke goes down as an all-time nice Hawkeye. What a profession for Stuelke.

It all the time stings when a season ends, whether or not that is inside Carver within the second spherical, or, if it is in a pair of nationwide championship video games like this group was part of.

We will dissect this loss and the top of the season and what’s subsequent, however it’s price simply saying thanks for a enjoyable season and for all of the recollections to a fantastic group of Hawkeyes.

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This text initially appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Takeaways as Virginia upsets Iowa girls’s basketball, denies Candy 16