2024 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament: Iowa vs. Nebraska Championship Preview
We have a rivalry game in the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament championship on Sunday. No. 2 Iowa will take on No. 5 Nebraska in the finals, marking the third time the two teams have played this season.
If you like star power, there will be plenty on display on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. Caitlin Clark is on her way to being crowned the National Player of the Year for a second consecutive season and is hoping to lead the Hawkeyes to a third straight Big Ten Tournament title.
She has an excellent supporting cast in Hannah Stuelke, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. Stuelke and Martin provide a great interior presence while Marshall can knock down the long ball.
On the other side of the floor, Nebraska has been anchored by double-double machine Alexis Markowski, who has dominated in the post this season. Senior guard Jaz Shelley has also had a special year and serves as a serious 3-point threat.
Natalie Potts has been a huge addition for the team this year, winning Freshman of the Year honors by Big Ten coaches.
The Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament has been incredibly entertaining through four days. We can't wait to see what the championship game has in store.
View the complete Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament bracket here.
No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 5 Nebraska
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Game: Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Championship
Iowa's path to the championship
Finished the Big Ten regular season No. 2 in the standings and earned a double-bye. Did not play on Wednesday or Thursday.
- Friday: Defeated No. 7 Penn State 95-62 in quarterfinals
- Saturday: Defeated No. 6 Michigan XX-XX in semifinals
Nebraska's path to the championship
Finished the Big Ten regular season No. 5 in the standings and earned a single-bye. Did not play on Wednesday
- Thursday: Defeated No. 12 Purdue 64-56 in second round
- Friday: Defeated No. 4 Michigan State 73-61 in the quarterfinals
- Saturday: Defeated No. 8 Maryland 78-68 in the semifinals
Preview
- Nebraska record: 22-12 (11-7 in Big Ten)
- Iowa record: 28-4 (15-3 in Big Ten)
- Regular season meeting(s): Iowa def. Nebraska 92-73 on Jan. 27; Nebraska def. Iowa 82-79 on Feb. 11
Regular season meetings
Iowa and Nebraska split the two regular season meetings, each winning on their home court. How fitting that we get a championship game in Minneapolis to close out the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament for ultimate bragging rights.
In the first meeting in Iowa City, it was a strong third quarter that allowed the Hawkeyes to create some separation from the Huskers, cruising to a 92-73 win. Clark scored 38 points and knocked down eight-of-15 shots from 3-point range. She also collected 10 rebounds. Kate Martin gave Iowa 16 points and the Hawkeyes connected on 52.5% of their shots from the floor.
Nebraska got revenge in Lincoln in February, taking down Iowa in an 82-79 thriller. Shelley scored 23 points and dished out five assists in that game to go along with Markowski's 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. Shelley hit the game's biggest shot, burying one of her five 3-pointers with Nebraska trailing 75-77 and giving the Huskers a one-point lead in the final 32 seconds. The big story from that game? Clark was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Iowa players to watch
- Caitlin Clark, senior: Clark needs no introduction, as she's well on her way to winning the National Player of the Year Award for a second straight season. The senior is averaging 32.3 points per game this season, the top scoring average in women's college basketball. She's also dishing out 8.7 assists and collecting 7.3 rebounds per contest for the Hawkeyes.
- Hannah Stuelke, sophomore: The sophomore has improved quite a bit from her freshman campaign, becoming the second-best scorer and rebounder for Iowa this season, averaging 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. If teams put too much emphasis on Clark, Stuelke is capable of having a a big night.
- Kate Martin, senior: Martin is the only other Hawkeye averaging double figures this season, scoring 13 points per game. The 6-foot senior has been efficient when shooting the ball, connecting on a 52.2% rate.
Nebraska players to watch
- Alexis Markowski, junior: Markowski has been a walking double-double this season, recording 17 for the year. Her best outing came in a win over Purdue, scoring 20 points and grabbing 21 rebounds. The 6-foot-3 center has been tough for most teams to defend in the low post. Markowski was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
- Jaz Shelley, senior: While she's capable of scoring, Shelley can be most dangerous as a distributor, dishing out 5.2 assists per game this season. The senior has recorded six assists or more in each of the final four games of the regular season. She also hit double-digit scoring totals three times in that stretch.
- Natalie Potts, freshman: Voted the Freshman of the Year by Big Ten coaches, Potts has been a tremendous addition for Nebraska this season. She's averaging 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while making 52% of her shots from the floor. Potts hasn't been afraid to step into a significant role and contribute.
What to expect from Iowa-Nebraska
Iowa is trying to win its third straight Big Ten Tournament title. Nebraska is hoping to hoist the tourney trophy for the first time since 2014. Both teams want to end the year with a 2-1 advantage over their biggest rival.
One of the biggest factors in Nebraska's competitiveness in the two games with Iowa? Success on the glass. The Huskers outrebounded the Hawkeyes in both regular season battles — which will be a big key in Sunday's game.
If the Huskers want a chance to upset the Hawkeyes in Minneapolis, knocking down the 3-ball would be helpful, too. Shelley was on fire in Nebraska's win over Maryland in the semifinal round, scoring 30 points and hitting six shots from behind the arc.
For Iowa, it's all about doing what they do best, creating points off turnovers and playing at a fast tempo. If the Hawkeyes can speed the game up, they'll be in the driver's seat on Sunday afternoon. Clark is going to put up some points, but she'll need the additional help of Stuelke, Martin and Gabbie Marshall.
The Hawkeyes should be relatively fresh, cruising to blowout wins over Penn State and Michigan in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
It's not every year you get a rivalry game in the Big Ten Tournament championship. Sit back, relax and enjoy the finale on Sunday.
Related Big Ten stories
- INDIANA COLLAPSES IN LOSS TO MICHIGAN: Indiana women's basketball led by 14 points at halftime to Michigan during the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, but crumbled in the second half. Laila Phelia led the game with 30 points. Sara Scalia had 14. Mackenzie Holmes' late-game appearance wasn't enough. CLICK HERE
- BIG TEN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS: The Big Ten has announced the individual award winners and all-conference teams for the 2023-24 women's college basketball season. Iowa's Caitlin Clark was named the Player of the Year and Ohio State's Kevin McGuff was the Big Ten Coach of the Year. CLICK HERE
- THREE BIG TEN WBB PLAYERS TOP NIL SALES LIST: Three Big Ten women's basketball players — Iowa's Hannah Stuelke and Molly Davis and Purdue's Mary Ashley Stevenson — were among the top sellers at the NIL Store for the month of February. CLICK HERE