Iowa WBB Class of 2026 Recruiting Thread

[hawkod]

The Fever game is during a recruiting shutdown. No unofficial or official visits are allowed

This actually is not correct. From the NCAA recruiting calendar: April 29-May 4, 2025 is a 'Quiet Period'.

Quiet Period: 'A quiet period is that period of time when it IS permissable to make IN-PERSON recruiting contacts ONLY ON THE MEMBER INSTITUTION'S CAMPUS.'

Only problem is that the game is scheduled at 5 PM on the 4th, so would have to usher any recruits off campus by midnight. Since this isn't an Iowa game staff wouldn't be tied up with the game itself, so I'm sure there would be a way to pull it off.

Link to NCAA recruiting calendar: https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/co...024-25/2024-25D1Rec_WBBRecruitingCalendar.pdf

 

[JEDN]

If what Tom Paris says is true I’ve lost much respect regarding the recruiting IQ of our staff.

 

[bunsen82]

If what Tom Paris says is true I’ve lost much respect regarding the recruiting IQ of our staff.

Why? Recruiting is about relationships, bonds, experiences. The more opportunity you have to interact with player, the increased shot at potentially getting them to commit. Should have we stopped recruiting Clark and told her be on her way when it looked like she was going to Notre Dame, committed to Notre Dame. Should we have immediately filled her spot and said sorry Clark, no room. You got one of the best recruits to visit Iowa. Whether for the spectacle or not, you got them here, for Iowa whether its football, basketball ect, half the battle is just getting them to visit. Next, the environment of Carver is elite. At its best when full and raucous I am not sure there is a better venue. So as Tom said - minds can be changed but as of right now, this seems like Harpring was being nice to Jan, and Jan was thus gracious to Harpring. We have to keep taking these shots. Just like Clark, now Deal, you may just get one to realize how good it can be to be a Hawkeye.

 

[BHoppy]

Tom while I don’t question what you have been told but it makes absolutely no sense for Iowa to pay for her family to come in for the weekend, Wine and dine them while knowing she has no interest in coming to Iowa. Jan could have simply gotten them tickets and said enjoy the game. Just doesn’t add up to me.

Has she ever been on a visit to Iowa before? Maybe she wanted to see what the atmosphere was like.
Iowa has never had this many highly rated recruits visiting. You have to start somewhere just getting them to Iowa and then next step is closing the deal.
I am sure all recruits are aware where other recruits are going. It is a good look for Iowa and may help down the road to get more official visits from highly ranked recruits.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[GunnerHawk]

It will be very difficult to get Harpring out of the South. Awfully early for an official visit.

Still don't thing Bjorn will be a Hawk, give Jan credit for trying.

Lewis would be a solid commit, seems like the family likes the Hawks. Fingers crossed.

Chastain and Deal spent time together. She is an intriguing 2007 prospect.

Only time will tell.

 

[SunzOutGunzOut]

actually is not correct. From the NCAA recruiting calendar: April 29-May 4, 2025 is a 'Quiet Period'.

Quiet Period: 'A quiet period is that period of time when it IS permissable to make IN-PERSON recruiting contacts ONLY ON THE MEMBER INSTITUTION'S CAMPUS.'

Only problem is that the game is scheduled at 5 PM on the 4th, so would have to usher any recruits off campus by midnight. Since this isn't an Iowa game staff wouldn't be tied up with the game itself, so I'm sure there would be a way to pull it off.

Link to NCAA recruiting calendar: https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/co...024-25/2024-25D1Rec_WBBRecruitingCalendar.pdf

Good catch, for some reason I was thinking the Fever game was the 5th

 

[SunzOutGunzOut]

View embedded media

It obviously couldn't hurt however Skinner & McGaughy both visited for a game & neither committed despite the atmosphere

 

[citizenHawk]

Even more important than atmosphere and experience, is interaction with players and future players. Those relationships can make a difference. Deal and Harpring have the same coach. Little things like that can tip something. You need to start relationships with players somewhere. You can't score without taking a shot.

You also can't discount what your other offers see on the television. Optics work in mysterious ways.

 

[jaxhawk06]

Anyone know who this is referring to?

 

[bunsen82]

Anyone know who this is referring to?

View embedded media

NM, a lot more 2026 recruits than I thought don't want to speculate.

 

[hawkod]

NM, a lot more 2026 recruits than I thought don't want to speculate.

Well, if it's a 5 star the list is short.

 

[bunsen82]

Well, if it's a 5 star the list is short.

You would think here is that list:

Harpring, Lewis, Bjorn, Woliczko (didn't visit but has before), Koupal

 

[jaxhawk06]

Jenica Lewis

https://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/jenica-lewis-at-johnston-322365/CurrentExpertPredictions/

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

Anyone know who this is referring to?

View embedded media

Here's an updated list of prospects below. However, only a few can qualify as a "composite 5-star."

Can we speculate based on the word "composite?"

Someone help me here. I'm not versed in the cutoff thresholds here between 4 and 5 star players.

I would think the top 4 on this list are NOT composite players. They are 5-stars on any ranking site so no need to use the word composite to qualify them.

Next is the outer limit to cutoff those who can't qualify because their composite is outside the 5-star range. I believe Maddyn Greenway was considered a 4-star.

So by the process of elimination, my avg Joe Blow mind thinks we're talking about someone on this list between #5 and #12.

My next elimination are those who haven't visited between #5 and #12.

That leaves a list of Woliczko, Byles, Bjorn, Harpring, Koupal and Lewis as possible commits.

Again, does anyone else feel someone else from the list below can be added to this possible list in bold? Maybe we should include Kussow and Ragone? Think they are the only extras that can be added to that list.

I would be stoked if it's anyone of them. Another 5-star added with Addie in '26. Believe it would be the 1st time we have 2 five stars together on a women's team.

Rk

'26-'27 Offers

Hght

Pos

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

LOW

Avg Rk

Notes

1​

Jerzy Robinson

6'1"

W

1​

3​

1​

3​

3​

3​

5​

2​

1​

2.63​

2​

Saniyah Hall

6'1"

G/F

4​

1​

5​

1​

2​

10​

1​

1​

3.43​

3​

Olivia Vukosa

6'5"

F/P

2​

6​

2​

5​

16​

6​

1​

4​

1​

5.25​

Top 16

4​

Trinity Jones

6'2"

W

10​

7​

7​

8​

7​

1​

9​

1​

7.00​

Visit

5​

McKenna Woliczko

6'2"

W/F

7​

5​

8​

6​

5​

22​

5​

5​

8.29​

Top 10

6​

Amari Byles

6'2"

W

6​

10​

12​

17​

6​

14​

7​

13​

6​

10.63​

Top 15

7​

Addison Bjorn

6'2"

G/W

17​

13​

11​

11​

7​

11​

10​

10​

7​

11.25​

Top 15

8​

Brihanna Crittendon

6'3"

W

9​

9​

6​

10​

35​

12​

6​

8​

6​

11.88​

9​

Kate Harpring

5'10"

PG

12​

2​

21​

2​

37​

1​

25​

3​

1​

12.88​

OVisit

10​

Ashlyn Koupal

6'3"

W

27​

11​

14​

21​

9​

12​

9​

15.67​

Visit

11​

Jenica Lewis

5'10"

W

13​

30​

16​

15​

1​

23​

14​

20​

1​

16.50​

Visit

12​

Sanai Green

6'0"

G

11​

16​

30​

27​

12​

29​

23​

11​

21.14​

13​

Maddyn Greenway

5'6"

PG

39​

25​

18​

18​

32​

19​

12​

17​

12​

22.50​

-> KY

14​

Natalie Kussow

5'11"

G

49​

18​

15​

16​

25​

27​

22​

15​

24.57​

Visit

15​

Bella Ragone

6'2"

W

35​

19​

29​

28​

21​

21​

21​

19​

24.86​

Visit

16​

Kamrah Banks

5'9"

G

33​

33​

11​

11​

25.67​

17​

Lilly Williams

6'5"

F/P

34​

54​

28​

20​

28​

28​

20​

32.00​

-> MI St

18​

Jayla Jay Jackson

5'7"

CG

68​

18​

13​

13​

33.00​

Visit

19​

Emilia Krstevski

6'5"

F/P

31​

49​

35​

26​

27​

26​

33.60​

Visit

20​

Ava Miles

6'0"

G

30​

44​

52​

25​

25​

37.75​

Visit

21​

Tori Oehrlein

5'11"

PG

48​

51​

43​

22​

22​

41.00​

-> Minn

22​

Leelee Bell

6'3"

W

59​

59​

59.00​

Visit

 

[Franisdaman]

Jenica Lewis

https://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/jenica-lewis-at-johnston-322365/CurrentExpertPredictions/

 

[hawkod]

Why? Recruiting is about relationships, bonds, experiences. The more opportunity you have to interact with player, the increased shot at potentially getting them to commit. Should have we stopped recruiting Clark and told her be on her way when it looked like she was going to Notre Dame, committed to Notre Dame. Should we have immediately filled her spot and said sorry Clark, no room. You got one of the best recruits to visit Iowa. Whether for the spectacle or not, you got them here, for Iowa whether its football, basketball ect, half the battle is just getting them to visit. Next, the environment of Carver is elite. At its best when full and raucous I am not sure there is a better venue. So as Tom said - minds can be changed but as of right now, this seems like Harpring was being nice to Jan, and Jan was thus gracious to Harpring. We have to keep taking these shots. Just like Clark, now Deal, you may just get one to realize how good it can be to be a Hawkeye.

This is dead on. Take Kate Harpring for example, she can go anywhere she wants. Let's say she ends up at South Carolina: 3 hour drive from ATL, 1st in the nation in attendance, better chance at reaching Final 4 than at Iowa, who could blame her? But what if she doesn't fit in as well as she thought she would and considers a transfer? Lot likelier you're on that list if she's already visited and had a nice experience.

A more likely possibility is that she sticks with her initial commitment. But these elite girls rub shoulders with many other elites in their AAU/Nike travels. What if she has conversations with Top 50 players who don't have offers from South Carolina, UConn or UCLA? If they say they have an offer from Iowa she could relate her positive experience on her visit. Or, maybe they ask what other schools she (Kate) considered?

I think it's a smart move to get every elite player on campus we can.

 

[Tom Paris]

While I 100% believe what Tom was told, some things don't quite add up. Kate's dad made at least $48 million during his days in the NBA; her mom is a physician in a dermatology practice. I know money is money, but if Kate really just wanted to come to the game seems like they have the resources to visit on their own with no strings attached. Tickets were a few hundred, flights out of ATL a few hundred, hotel/meals several hundred...a lot of money for many of us but nothing for a multimillionaire. And what would be so special about this game? Maybe Kate is a massive CC fan? If so, she could see her play right in Atlanta at a WNBA game. Maybe a huge Juju follower? Why not just take an official to USC? Doubt she's a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Again, no disrespect to Tom, but I gotta think there's at least some interest in the program. She's in the loop with Brandon Clay who also has Addie Deal. Just trying to be logical....

Totally agree. It doesn’t make sense and I would have questioned it if it came from someone other than who told me. So if it’s true then the logic is that Jan is creating good will for her down the road, especially in this time of constant transfers.

 

[Rocket_Fran]

Confidence level 6!! (medium) on a crystal ball prediction lol. These sites can be such BS

 

[bunsen82]

We are getting several G's, and I like the 2 centers we have. Could really use some F's.

 

[bunsen82]

Confidence level 6!! (medium) on a crystal ball prediction lol. These sites can be such BS

You don't post it without some confirmation.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Rocket_Fran]

You don't post it without some confirmation.

I understand that which kinda emphasizes my entire point. To me, a crystal ball prediction should be binary. Adding a 1-10 grading system is oxymoronic & nonsensical in this regard, IMO. Just further muddies the water so people have outs to save their ass (to bosses or fans).

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

Totally agree. It doesn’t make sense and I would have questioned it if it came from someone other than who told me. So if it’s true then the logic is that Jan is creating good will for her down the road, especially in this time of constant transfers.

Exactly... planting seeds! If we're not their 1st go, we better find a way to show up on the top of their next list. Seems to fit Jan's 'We got next' mantra.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[GunnerHawk]

Jenica Lewis

https://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/jenica-lewis-at-johnston-322365/CurrentExpertPredictions/

Hope he's right. I was hoping this young lady would become a Hawk. Very good combo guard which the Hawks need. If she commits, the focus can turn to forwards.

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

I understand that which kinda emphasizes my entire point. To me, a crystal ball prediction should be binary. Adding a 1-10 grading system is oxymoronic & nonsensical in this regard, IMO. Just further muddies the water so people have outs to save their ass (to bosses or fans).

Believe there's a better indicator on that page than confidence level that I would consider.
He has 115 right out of 123 crystal balls. That's 93.5% correct.
So I would think his goal is to raise this % and not lower it if he wants to be taken more seriously than not.

He posted it on a board that he's putting his ass on the line. That's the binary that counts more than Confidence level.

I may be wrong on this but we have no idea want constitutes each Confidence level. The rules behind each level may not allow him to go above 6 for the intel he was gifted by Lewis and/or her agent.

I'm pretty sure he had some kind of insight he felt comfortable with posting it on that board. Meaning intel coming from Jenica or her agent is beyond "I'm leaning toward Iowa."

I'm going to give an example on Confidence level but you can apply it to any # of issues than the one in this example.
Jenica has diabetes.
She may need tested as to the level of diabetes at the University before she can be accepted.
The University may not want to take on an excessive liability for any reason.
These players most likely need to be stress tested before acceptance and before they can say committed.

Again, we have no idea what the requirements of #7 or higher are before he's allowed to go that high in his confidence level. David might even feel 100% confident that Jenica is committing but the rules prohibit him from stating that level of confidence on that site because of outstanding issues.

 

[BHoppy]

Here's an updated list of prospects below. However, only a few can qualify as a "composite 5-star."

Can we speculate based on the word "composite?"

Someone help me here. I'm not versed in the cutoff thresholds here between 4 and 5 star players.

I would think the top 4 on this list are NOT composite players. They are 5-stars on any ranking site so no need to use the word composite to qualify them.

Next is the outer limit to cutoff those who can't qualify because their composite is outside the 5-star range. I believe Maddyn Greenway was considered a 4-star.

So by the process of elimination, my avg Joe Blow mind thinks we're talking about someone on this list between #5 and #12.

My next elimination are those who haven't visited between #5 and #12.

That leaves a list of Woliczko, Byles, Bjorn, Harpring, Koupal and Lewis as possible commits.

Again, does anyone else feel someone else from the list below can be added to this possible list in bold? Maybe we should include Kussow and Ragone? Think they are the only extras that can be added to that list.

I would be stoked if it's anyone of them. Another 5-star added with Addie in '26. Believe it would be the 1st time we have 2 five stars together on a women's team.

Rk

'26-'27 Offers

Hght

Pos

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

LOW

Avg Rk

Notes

1​

Jerzy Robinson

6'1"

W

1​

3​

1​

3​

3​

3​

5​

2​

1​

2.63​

2​

Saniyah Hall

6'1"

G/F

4​

1​

5​

1​

2​

10​

1​

1​

3.43​

3​

Olivia Vukosa

6'5"

F/P

2​

6​

2​

5​

16​

6​

1​

4​

1​

5.25​

Top 16

4​

Trinity Jones

6'2"

W

10​

7​

7​

8​

7​

1​

9​

1​

7.00​

Visit

5​

McKenna Woliczko

6'2"

W/F

7​

5​

8​

6​

5​

22​

5​

5​

8.29​

Top 10

6​

Amari Byles

6'2"

W

6​

10​

12​

17​

6​

14​

7​

13​

6​

10.63​

Top 15

7​

Addison Bjorn

6'2"

G/W

17​

13​

11​

11​

7​

11​

10​

10​

7​

11.25​

Top 15

8​

Brihanna Crittendon

6'3"

W

9​

9​

6​

10​

35​

12​

6​

8​

6​

11.88​

9​

Kate Harpring

5'10"

PG

12​

2​

21​

2​

37​

1​

25​

3​

1​

12.88​

OVisit

10​

Ashlyn Koupal

6'3"

W

27​

11​

14​

21​

9​

12​

9​

15.67​

Visit

11​

Jenica Lewis

5'10"

W

13​

30​

16​

15​

1​

23​

14​

20​

1​

16.50​

Visit

12​

Sanai Green

6'0"

G

11​

16​

30​

27​

12​

29​

23​

11​

21.14​

13​

Maddyn Greenway

5'6"

PG

39​

25​

18​

18​

32​

19​

12​

17​

12​

22.50​

-> KY

14​

Natalie Kussow

5'11"

G

49​

18​

15​

16​

25​

27​

22​

15​

24.57​

Visit

15​

Bella Ragone

6'2"

W

35​

19​

29​

28​

21​

21​

21​

19​

24.86​

Visit

16​

Kamrah Banks

5'9"

G

33​

33​

11​

11​

25.67​

17​

Lilly Williams

6'5"

F/P

34​

54​

28​

20​

28​

28​

20​

32.00​

-> MI St

18​

Jayla Jay Jackson

5'7"

CG

68​

18​

13​

13​

33.00​

Visit

19​

Emilia Krstevski

6'5"

F/P

31​

49​

35​

26​

27​

26​

33.60​

Visit

20​

Ava Miles

6'0"

G

30​

44​

52​

25​

25​

37.75​

Visit

21​

Tori Oehrlein

5'11"

PG

48​

51​

43​

22​

22​

41.00​

-> Minn

22​

Leelee Bell

6'3"

W

59​

59​

59.00​

Visit

A "composite five-star ranking" means that a player or prospect has been evaluated by multiple recruiting services and, based on the average of their ratings across those services, is considered to be among the very top players in the country

 

[Herkylian]

Just my feeling from as much as I can read on what's happening in recruiting and research, I would feel confidence is as follows...but we all know recruiting is fickle

1) Jenica, I can see her magical especially if we up our offense.
2) McKenna, though I feel it's higher since her injury and really due to the effect of how it's a family atmosphere and program that protects and never gives up on their players (I don't need to hear the one off idiots takes)
3) Addison, call it the Jordan Speiser fears.
4) Kate, but she would actually be the least surprising next to Jenica in all honesty. The problem is getting her out of the South, Southwest, specifically LSU....and I think this experience helped immensely.
As for the rest we might be linked to, getting Ashlyn would send me catatonic and Olivia Vukosa would send me comatose as I think she already has a UCONN letter 😂

In my humble opinion, getting Jenica and McKenna (praying for her health and it has nothing to do with how she would fit in the program), combined with Addie and Layla WITH our young core will let us be in the conversation as one of the best in the country for years to come. Interesting times coming up and I feel there will be at least one surprise 😀

 

[UptownHawk]

Totally agree. It doesn’t make sense and I would have questioned it if it came from someone other than who told me. So if it’s true then the logic is that Jan is creating good will for her down the road, especially in this time of constant transfers.

Hi Tom,

Thank you for the info. Did your source say why she isn't interested in Iowa? Does she have a target school in mind or is there something specific towards Iowa?

Thank you

 

[citizenHawk]

Not sure what people expect recruits to do or say while shopping schools. "Had a great time, great experience. I'm sure I'll be considering it when I consider all fifteen schools 6 months from now."

Point is: doesn't really matter what they say.

If car dealerships were interviewing me after test driving every car I'd tell them whatever they want to hear to stop asking me questions. Not buying anything until I drive all five on my list, or more if a sixth or seventh catches my eye and has a good deal.

Just let it play out. There is a nice list of players Iowa is talking to.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

A "composite five-star ranking" means that a player or prospect has been evaluated by multiple recruiting services and, based on the average of their ratings across those services, is considered to be among the very top players in the country

Someone help me here. I'm not versed in the cutoff thresholds here between 4 and 5 star players.

What you seem to be stating is an avg star rating (1 - 5) vs my avg position rank (1 - 400).

Example:
Player 1 Stars: 4 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 4 = 4.4 avg (is this considered a composite 4-star?)
Player 2 Stars: 4 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 5 = 4.6 avg (is this considered a composite 5-star?)

Wonder where the line is drawn between a composite 4-star and composite 5-star?
Is it 4.5 or greater for a composite 5-star? Is it anything over 4 a for composite 5-star?

Don't know if I like this as I like to know their avg position rank.

Was hoping it was based on avg position rank where anything over top 15 avg, top 20 avg or even top 25 avg are considered composite 5-stars.

Anyways, thanks for your reply.

 

[letsgosports]

The comeback: Mitty star McKenna Woliczko undergoes knee surgery, sets goals for return to court

Archbishop Mitty All-American forward McKenna Woliczko has a long road back to the court, but she’s cleared her first big hurdle

www.mercurynews.com

 

[BGHAWK]

Dawn Staley tells her she could be a rehab buddy with her player who was injured on in January. What a load of BS to tell her.

 

[wondergrape]

Dawn Staley tells her she could be a rehab buddy with her player who was injured on in January. What a load of BS to tell her.

What are you talking about?

 

[BGHAWK]

What are you talking about?

Read the link in post 1,154 above if you can. I read it once and went back to get the UNC player's name and it blocks me from reading it. But what I posted is what Staley said in the article.

 

[wondergrape]

Read the link in post 1,154 above if you can. I read it once and went back to get the UNC player's name and it blocks me from reading it. But what I posted is what Staley said in the article.

I guess i dont get it. Wasnt Dawn just joking around?

 

[letsgosports]

I guess i dont get it. Wasnt Dawn just joking around?

Yeah, I don’t think it is a big deal. Good intentions and clearly trying to support her either way.
I’m sure we reached out as well, but it wasn’t in the article.

P.S. Her dad still will randomly tweet about or engages with some Iowa related tweets sometimes.

 

[citizenHawk]

Glossed over here, is the news that she had more work done on the knee than anticipated. Such a bummer for Woliczko, but sounds like she still hopes to be running again with her PT by June or so. Sounds determined.

Hope the best for her rehab.

*Staley is surely just saying what people say, making a light comment. No big deal.