In the Big Ten’s annual All-Conference honors announcement on the morning of Tuesday, March 3, Iowa women’s basketball sophomore center Ava Heiden earned a First Team All-Big Ten distinction by both the collection of coaches and media for her outstanding 2025-26 campaign with the Hawkeyes.
For the 6-foot-4 native of Sherwood, Ore., this is the first All-Big Ten honor of her career, as she has quickly cemented her status as one of the best centers in the league and possibly nationwide this season.
Heiden leads the Hawkeyes this season in points per game (17.6), field goal percentage (65.1%), and double-doubles (9). Additionally, her field goal percentage ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten, and boasts the best points per game improvement over the last two seasons amongst all power players.
In her 29 games started and played this season, Heiden has also forced 60 turnovers, including 36 steals and 32 blocks, as the Hawkeyes’ primary rim defender.
She has also collected several in-season conference honors, including Big Ten Player of the Week three times and, most recently, a Big Ten Honor Roll mention on March 2.
Due to Iowa entering the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 2 seed with a double-bye, Heiden and the Hawkeyes will have extra rest before their quarterfinal game on Friday, March 4, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at approximately 5:30 p.m. CT against either Wisconsin, Illinois, or Michigan State.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball center named to All-Big Ten First Team
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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