Iowa Women's Basketball to play in the 2024 Cancun Challenge
The Iowa women’s basketball team just finished up Thanksgiving weekend at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida. The Hawkeyes defeated Purdue-Fort Wayne, Florida Gulf Coast and Kansas State en route to a tournament championship. While they still have a long season ahead of them, a piece of the scheduling puzzle for next season has been announced. Lisa Bluder and the Hawkeyes will compete in the 2024 Cancun Challenge Riviera Division per a press release by the tournament. Six teams will be in the field along with Iowa, including BYU, Rhode Island, Idaho State, Rice and one team that is still to be determined. It will be the fourth time under Lisa Bluder that the Hawkeyes have played in the tournament.
The tournament will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico and will be played from November 28-30. Iowa will play two of the other five teams in the field.
A quick look at the Cancun Challenge field
BYU Cougars – Now a member of the Big 12, BYU is currently the only other power conference school in the field. The Cougars have been a solid program, making a postseason tournament in 12 of the last 14 seasons, including six NCAA Tournament appearances. They went 15-17 last season and made the WNIT. Iowa leads the all-time series 3-0.
Rhode Island Rams – Out of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Rams have made the WNIT in each of the last two seasons. They went 26-7 last season and made the WNIT. The Hawkeyes have never faced Rhode Island, but are 4-0 all-time against A-10 opponents.
Top 10
- 1
Kirby Smart calls out CFP
Georgia HC victory laps committee after win vs. Tennessee
- 2
Josh Heupel
Tennessee HC unhappy with refs
- 3
Dave Aranda
Baylor HC will return for 2025
- 4
Florida trolls Brian Kelly
'Don't damage our tables, coach'
- 5New
Travis Hunter
Colorado star heavy Heisman favorite
Idaho State Bengals – Out of the Big Sky Conference, the Bengals have made an NCAA Tournament appearance as recently as 2021. They went 9-19 last season and lost in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 1-0.
Rice Owls – Now a member of the American Athletic Conference, the Owls last made the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Rice made the WNIT in 2018, 2021 and 2023, including a championship in 2021. They went 23-9 last season and made the WNIT Second Round. Iowa has never faced Rice, but is 4-0 all-time against AAC opponents
Iowa Women’s Basketball History at the Cancun Challenge
2007 – W vs Mississippi State (60-54), L vs #13 Arizona State (60-58)
2010 – W vs James Madison (67-61), W vs Virginia Tech (72-43)
2016 – L vs #9 UCLA (78-65), W vs James Madison (90-75)
2021 – Canceled vs USC, Canceled vs Seton Hall
