Iowa State opens its season tonight against Grambling State at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. Fans tuning in from home can stream the matchup live on ESPN+, featuring play-by-play caller BJ Schaben, analyst Chelsea Poppens and sideline reporter Abby Altman. Radio coverage will be available via the Varsity App, with Noah Wolf and Jamie Steyer Johnson calling the action.
Head coach Bill Fennelly enters his 32nd and final season at Iowa State boasting 656 victories
with the Cyclones. Iowa State puts an extraordinary 31-game season-opener winning streak on the line—the longest active streak in NCAA women’s basketball, dating back to Fennelly’s inaugural 1995–96 season. Coming off their 24th overall NCAA Tournament appearance and seventh consecutive berth, the Cyclones return key contributors including Arianna Jackson, who ranked 9th nationally and led the Big 12 in 3-point shooting last season at 43.9% (63-of-149), alongside returning contributors Evangelia Paulk and Freya Jensen.
The Cyclones showcase a revamped lineup this year, integrating 10 new faces into the team. The squad features a broad international presence with players hailing from seven countries: the United States (6), Australia (2), Canada (1), China (1), Denmark (1), Nigeria (1) and Slovenia (1).
Iowa State comes into tonight following a dominant 90-32 exhibition win against Upper Iowa. The Cyclones started fast with an initial 15-0 run. Tjaša Turnšek led the team with 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Sienna Harvey and Alex-Anne Bessette scored 12 points each. Emilija Dakic contributed 11 points, and Ashleigh Connor anchored the defense with a game-high 6 steals.
