UCLA and Iowa Square off in Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Championship Game

No. 1 seed UCLA and No. 2 seed Iowa face off today at 2:15 p.m. ET in the championship game of the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament. Combined, these teams have won the last four conference tournament titles. UCLA comes in as the defending champion, while Iowa took home the hardware in each of the 2022-24 seasons.

UCLA is undefeated in Big Ten play this season, but a No. 2 seed has won each of the last four titles. The Bruins defeated Iowa, 88-65, in their regular season meeting just last month.

Who will raise the trophy in 2025? Let's take a look at the championship matchup.

Lauren Betts and the Balanced Bruins

The biggest factor on the court, as she has been for UCLA all season long, is Lauren Betts. No one has had a real answer for the 6' 7" Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year, in part because you can't double her up, or else another WNBA-prospect Bruin will get open and bury a dagger. That was the case in UCLA's last meeting with Iowa, when Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Angela Dugalić led the way with 22 points. (Betts still netted 16 of her own).

The Bruins' versatility has come through in the biggest moments, including this tournament. In the quarterfinals, Washington held UCLA to a season-low six points in the opening quarter. Betts scored eight of UCLA's first 12 points in the game to stay within striking distance before four different Bruins scored in a massive 15-0, second-quarter run to take a lead that they'd lever let up. Betts posted 26 points in the quarterfinals, and five Bruins finished in double figures in the semis.

Between Betts, Dugalić, Kiki Rice (35 points in two tournament games), sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens, and the depth on the Bruins' bench... UCLA has an offense that can adapt to beat you however it needs to, and it's why the Bruins are 30-1 on the season.

When asked about today's game and the postseason, Big Ten Coach of the Year Cori Close said, "I just care about 1-0. I'm obviously very grateful for what we've been able to do together... We just need to stake focused on the present and what each game teaches us."

Heiden, Stuelke and Co.

The Hawkeyes counter with their own star post players, Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke, who have been outstanding in the tournament so far. Heiden led the team with 16 points in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and posted 19 in their last meeting with UCLA. There's something about her timing – her biggest plays always seem to come when the game's momentum is up for grabs.

Meanwhile, Stuelke led the fourth-quarter spurt that made the difference for Iowa against Michigan in the semifinals. Down one heading into the final period, Stuelke scored 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Hawkeyes back to the championship game. Oh, and she's done it all with an elbow injury that kept her on the bench just last week. Her rebounding and veteran leadership will be instrumental if Iowa wants to hand UCLA its first Big Ten loss of the season.

Much like the Bruins, if a team favors coverage of Heiden or Stuelke, the Hawkeyes can hit you back with range with Chit-Chat Wright (25 points, five threes in two tournament games) or the versatility of Taylor Stremlow. We'll see if it's enough to beat the Bruins this time.

"We're at a spot now where nobody in the country thought we'd be in except the people in that huddle," said head coach Jan Jensen. "We have a couple tweaks we're going to try differently than the last time... We're going to have to be at our best."

Keep an Eye on..

• The Arc. If either of these squads gets hot from three and forces the other to spread out its defense, the floodgates may open just long enough to pull ahead.
• The Paint. Scoring-wise, UCLA dominated Iowa, 56-26, in the paint in February. The Hawkeyes will need to close that gap if they want to bring another trophy back to Iowa City.
• The Glass. Between Betts and Stuelke, every rebound will be a battle. They're second and third in the league in rebounds per game (respectively), and these are two of the most determined players on every court.
• Defense. Look for strategic adjustments on the defensive ends as different stars get hot and the game develops, particularly from Iowa. The 88 points that the Hawkeyes gave up to UCLA last month is the most they've allowed an opponent all season.

Championship Showdown

This Big Ten battle will be one for the books. Will UCLA repeat as tournament champions and sweep this season's conference trophies? Or will Iowa reclaim its spot atop the Big Ten throne? Tune in to CBS today at 2:15 p.m. ET for the championship game of the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament.

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