UCLA

Sitting at No. 3 in national rankings from the Associated Press, the UCLA women’s basketball squad aims to build on the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance a season ago, when the Bruins won the Big Ten Tournament, earned a No. 1 seed in March, and finished 34-3. 

So far this season, UCLA is on track to repeat such success. The Bruins’ lone loss of the year came to then No. 4-ranked Texas, falling 76-65 to the Longhorns in the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas back on Nov. 26. 

Despite the blemish, UCLA boasts a record of 7-1 against ranked programs. Even with this grueling schedule, the Bruins are the fifth-best team in Division I in point differential, defeating teams on average by 29.7 points per game. 

Plus, the Bruins feature balance, with four players averaging double-digit points. Headlining the Los Angeles-based squad on the offensive end is senior center Lauren Betts.

The 6-foot-7 Betts is averaging a team-high 16.1 points per game alongside 8.4 rebounds. Senior guard Kiki Rice closely trails Betts at 15.2 points per game. Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez owns a 14.2 game average, with graduate student teammate Gianna Kneepkens at 13.9 points per game. 

In addition to the diverse scoring threats, the Bruins are statistically one of the most consistent teams on the floor, ranking third in field goal percentage at 52.1. 

With one in every two shots finding its way through the net for UCLA, the Bruins are constantly on the prowl offensively, making it very hard for opposing teams to keep up.

The team also boasts a solid defense. On the whole, the Bruins don’t allow their opponents to score much, averaging just under 57 points allowed per game. This stat puts them at around 31st in the nation in opponent points per game.

Betts also makes her defensive presence known in the paint, averaging over 2 blocks per game.

The Bruins have relied on their length and scoring ability to own a perfect 9-0 Big Ten record this season and, as of recently, are on an 13-game winning streak. 

UCLA also drew a favorable end-of-the-season schedule, with five out of its last eight contests being at home in Pauley Pavilion. 

Combining UCLA’s high-powered and efficient offense, there’s no reason the Bruins can’t capture their first conference regular season title and add another Big Ten Championship trophy. 

Iowa

Is it perhaps a little basic to pick the Iowa women as the best team in the Big Ten?

Yes.

Is it an unpopular or unfounded opinion?

Not in the slightest.

While it may be hard to get a clear picture of which team, Iowa or UCLA, is truly better until their clash on Feb. 1, there are already some clear indicators that the Hawkeyes have what it takes to reign supreme, even on the home turf of their opponents.

Last season, when the Hawkeyes faced the Bruins at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 23, the No. 3 team in the nation met fierce resistance from then-unranked Iowa. UCLA committed 14 turnovers, nearly twice as many as Iowa’s eight, and narrowly eked out a 67-65 victory.

Of Iowa’s four leading scorers in that game, the Hawkeyes return senior Hannah Stuelke’s presence in the paint and senior Taylor McCabe’s sharpshooting to fill out a well-rounded roster this season. 

While the departure of veterans like Lucy Olsen, Addison O’Grady, and Sydney Affolter hasn’t necessarily benefited the program much, Iowa’s newer stars have arguably made the Hawkeyes even better this season than last.

Sophomore Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright is averaging over 12 points, two rebounds, and three assists per game in her inaugural season with the Hawkeyes, while her field goal and three-point shooting percentages are both higher than those of Olsen last season, according to ESPN.

Meanwhile, sophomore Ava Heiden played for the Hawkeyes last season but didn’t have as much of a chance to break out until her crucial postseason performances. The Sherwood, Oregon, native is now averaging over 15 points, seven rebounds, and one assist per game.

Add in a talented freshmen class that includes Addie Deal and Layla Hays, and Iowa has a truly unique roster that has already made a deep impact with big wins over ranked Baylor, Nebraska, and Michigan State squads.

There’s no doubt in my mind that UCLA is a talented team, but if a struggling Iowa program held Lauren Betts and the Bruins to a two-point margin of victory last year, it’s certainly going to be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Game on.