How To Watch Iowa State Cyclones Women’s Basketball in 2025
✦ Edited and fact-checked by Sports Editor Taylor Kujawa, our resident TV expert with over eight years of covering sports.
A look at the 2025–2026 Cyclones season
Following a so-so 23–12 campaign that ended with a thud in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the narrative in Ames centers on “improvement.” Last season was a solid, middle-of-the-pack season, but after notching a conference tournament win in 2023 and a Sweet Sixteen run in 2022, the Iowa State standard should be higher. Now in his 31st season, the pressure is on Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly to make a bigger splash.
This is still undeniably Audi Crooks’ team. The junior center is the anchor, and she’ll be joined by fellow junior star Addy Brown in the frontcourt. The big question, in my mind, is who will fill the massive void left by veteran guard Emily Ryan. All eyes are on Arizona transfer Jada Williams to see if she can step up and run the offense for this re-tooled Cyclones roster.
The Cyclones’ national profile means their TV schedule is spread all over the place. You’ll find their biggest games on ESPN and FS1, but the vast majority of their conference schedule will stream exclusively on ESPN+ (via the new ESPN Select/Unlimited platform). To make sure you don’t miss a single game, I’ve created this complete guide on how to watch Iowa State women’s basketball.
2025–2026 Iowa State women’s basketball TV schedule
The season tips off in a fun way on November 3 with the annual “Field Trip Day” game against St. Thomas that will have Hilton Coliseum rocking early. The schedule ramps up quickly, with the Cyclones participating in the Coconut Hoops Classic over Thanksgiving. Then, we have the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, which comes to Ames on December 10 and will air nationally on ESPN.
Big 12 play officially begins on December 21 with a home game against Kansas on ESPN2. From there, the Cyclones will face a challenging slate that includes conference foes like Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU. It all culminates in a regular-season finale on the road against Kansas State on March 1.
Check out the full Cyclones TV schedule in the table below. I’ll update game times and channel listings as the season progresses.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies | Monday, Nov. 3 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Southern Jaguars | Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Sacred Heart Pioneers | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Valparaiso Beacons | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Norfolk State Spartans | Sunday, Nov. 16 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| At Drake Bulldogs | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Mercyhurst Lakers | Sunday, Nov. 23 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| At Marquette Golden Eagles | Friday, Nov. 28 | 11:00 a.m. | TBA |
| Northern Illinois Huskies | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 2:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Iowa (#21) | Wednesday, Dec. 10 | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 6:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Kansas Jayhawks | Sunday, Dec. 21 | 1:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Baylor (#16) | Sunday, Jan. 4 | 5:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cincinnati Bearcats | Wednesday, Jan. 7 | TBD | TBA |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | Sunday, Jan. 11 | TBD | TBA |
| At Colorado Buffaloes | Wednesday, Jan. 14 | TBD | TBA |
| At Oklahoma State Cowgirls (#22) | Sunday, Jan. 18 | TBD | TBA |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | TBA |
| Arizona Wildcats | Saturday, Jan. 24 | 4:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Texas Tech Lady Raiders | Wednesday, Jan. 28 | TBD | TBA |
| At Utah | Saturday, Feb. 7 | TBD | TBA |
| At BYU Cougars | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | TBD | TBA |
| Kansas State | Sunday, Feb. 15 | TBD | TBA |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | TBD | TBA |
| At TCU (#17) | Sunday, Feb. 22 | TBD | TBA |
| Oklahoma State Cowgirls (#22) | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | TBD | TBA |
| At Kansas State | Sunday, March 1 | TBD | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching Iowa State women’s basketball
To follow the Cyclones this season, your TV plan needs to cover four distinct elements. You need ESPN and FOX Sports channels, along with streaming coverage from ESPN+ and FloHoops.
For the most complete, all-in-one package, my top recommendation is Hulu + Live TV. The reason I pick it for college basketball fans is simple: It not only includes all the core national channels (ESPN, FS1, FOX, etc.) but it also bundles in the ESPN+ content at no extra cost. This single subscription gets you almost everything, though you’ll still need a separate FloHoops subscription for those Coconut Hoops tournament games.
If a full live TV streaming service isn’t in your budget, you have some great, more-focused options. You can get the new ESPN Unlimited plan, which bundles all the ESPN channels and ESPN+ content. To add the FOX and FS1 games, I recommend the ESPN Unlimited and FOX One bundle, which is a fantastic, sports-centric package that gets you nearly all the Cyclones games without the high monthly bill.
How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball FAQ
Where can I watch Iowa State women's basketball for free?
Unfortunately, free viewing options are scarce for Cyclones fans. Games on FOX or ABC are accessible with a digital antenna, but you'll need a free live TV streaming trial from a service like DIRECTV or Fubo to catch games on premium channels.
How can I stream Iowa State basketball without cable?
The best cord-cutting option for watching Iowa State basketball is a live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, which includes nearly all the necessary channels and ESPN+ access. But you'll also need a FloHoops subscription for its exclusive matchups.
Can I watch Iowa State basketball on ESPN+?
Yes, several Cyclones games will stream on ESPN+, which is now available through ESPN's revamped streaming service. But you'll want the higher-tier ESPN Unlimited plan or a live TV streaming service to watch games on the traditional ESPN channels.
How can I listen to the Iowa State women's basketball game on the radio?
You can listen to live Iowa State broadcasts for free on the Cyclones website or The Varsity Network app. This is an excellent option if you're on the go and can't watch the TV broadcast.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com editorial team cross-referenced the official Iowa State women’s basketball schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, we selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
