Iowa Basketball Players Attended Big Ten Media Days
Hawkeyes representatives discussed team expectations at the annual preseason event in Illinois.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Basketball
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Iowa Hawkeyes players Ava Heiden and Chit-Chat Wright participated in Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday morning. The pair joined head coach Jan Jensen to discuss team goals and preparations for the upcoming season.
Why it matters
The annual event serves as a platform for programs to outline expectations after a period of transition. Players and coaches use the session to set the tone for their performance and establish objectives for conference play.
The Iowa Hawkeyes concluded the previous season with a 27-7 overall record and a 15-3 performance within Big Ten conference play. Last year, the team saw their tournament run end against a 10-seed Virginia squad.
The players
Ava Heiden
She is a junior center for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Chit-Chat Wright
She is a junior guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Jan Jensen
She is the third-year head coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The details
Junior center Ava Heiden and junior guard Chit-Chat Wright joined head coach Jan Jensen at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The group focused their media availability on addressing team play and evaluating prospects for replicating past success.
Timeline
The media event took place on Wednesday morning.
The 2025-26 season served as the previous competition period.
Season Trajectory
The Hawkeyes look to move past their second-round exit against Virginia during the previous NCAA Tournament. Establishing consistent momentum in the 2025-26 season remains the primary objective for the program under coach Jan Jensen.
The team finished the previous year with a 15-3 conference record, setting a high bar for their upcoming league standings. Fans should monitor how the junior backcourt and frontcourt combination integrates during the initial non-conference schedule.
The takeaway
The media session signals the start of the preseason preparation phase for Iowa. Returning players are now tasked with maintaining the program's strong conference track record established in the previous season.
Further reading
For additional updates on the team, visit the Basketball section.
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Do you feel confident in your local college team's ability to maintain their competitiveness this season?
