Ava Heiden appreciation thread. Her 3 straight 20-pt double-doubles was the longest such streak by an Iowa player since Caitlin had 4 in March, 2024
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
I was wondering if anyone else noticed..
she's pretty darn good
she's pretty darn good
she really is unstoppable right now.
I guess you don't want to piss her off.#13 Iowa (22-5, 13-3) pulled away & beat #6 Michigan (22-5, 13-3) 62-44.
Ava's stats:
27 minutes
..........0-0.......(0%)...from 3
11-17 (65%) from inside the arc
........................................
11-17 (65%) Overall Shooting
2-2 (100%) FTs
24 Points
10 Rebounds (2 offensive)
2 Steals
2 Blocks
Iowa 62-44 Michigan (Feb 22, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines NCAAW game from February 22, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.www.espn.com
Assume the Michigan family angle may have added some juice today for Ava. Mom was the BIG pitcher of the year for Michigan softball.
After a twirling basket, Ava gets tangled up with a Wolverine and spews F-bombs coming back up the court.
Loved it.
Loved it.
Think she got whopped in the face by the Michigan girl and was not at all happy about it
She's gotta be National Player of the Week this week, right? Three games, all of them 20+ points 10+ rebounds
Saw that. It was then that I knew that Ava was angry and looking to punish them.
She will be the best center in the nation when she learns to stop the ticky tack fouls and pick up a few on the other teams bigs. She will command the game.
After watching Ava play for almost two seasons, I still, at times, ask my self whether she's right or left handed. Around the basket you can't tell.
What a 3 game stretch for Ava over the last 7 days.
And she was ill, too?
@
Nebraska
W 80-67................(Feb 16: 27 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blks, 3 assts, 1 steal)
@
Purdue
W 83-74................(Feb 19: 21 pts, 13 rebs, 0 blks, 3 assts, 3 steals)
vs
#6 Michigan
W 62-44................(Feb 22: 24 pts, 10 rebs, 2 blks, 0 assts, 2 steals)
And she was ill, too?
@
NebraskaW 80-67................(Feb 16: 27 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blks, 3 assts, 1 steal)
@
PurdueW 83-74................(Feb 19: 21 pts, 13 rebs, 0 blks, 3 assts, 3 steals)
vs
#6 MichiganW 62-44................(Feb 22: 24 pts, 10 rebs, 2 blks, 0 assts, 2 steals)
Heiden Named Naismith Player of the Week
February 23, 2026
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa sophomore Ava Heiden was named the Jersey Mike’s Naismith National Player of the Week on Monday.
Heiden led the Hawkeyes with three double-doubles and wins at Nebraska, at Purdue, and No. 6 Michigan this past week. She averaged 24.0 points per game, 11.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.6 blocks and was 33-of-44 (75%) from the field.
Against the Huskers, Heiden tied her career-high with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. She also went 10-of-12 from the field and added 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and three steals against Purdue.
Against No. 6 Michigan on Sunday, Heiden led the Hawkeyes to their seventh ranked win of the season with her fourth 20-point double-double of her career and third of the week.
The Sherwood, Oregon, native is currently 4th nationally in field goal percentage (64) and is averaging 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She is the second Hawkeye to be named the Naismith National Player of the Week this season. (Hannah Stuelke)
Heiden and the Hawkeyes are set to host their regular season home finale on Thursday, Feb. 26 against Illinois at 8 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will air on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
hawkeyesports.com
February 23, 2026
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa sophomore Ava Heiden was named the Jersey Mike’s Naismith National Player of the Week on Monday.
Heiden led the Hawkeyes with three double-doubles and wins at Nebraska, at Purdue, and No. 6 Michigan this past week. She averaged 24.0 points per game, 11.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.6 blocks and was 33-of-44 (75%) from the field.
Against the Huskers, Heiden tied her career-high with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. She also went 10-of-12 from the field and added 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and three steals against Purdue.
Against No. 6 Michigan on Sunday, Heiden led the Hawkeyes to their seventh ranked win of the season with her fourth 20-point double-double of her career and third of the week.
The Sherwood, Oregon, native is currently 4th nationally in field goal percentage (64) and is averaging 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She is the second Hawkeye to be named the Naismith National Player of the Week this season. (Hannah Stuelke)
Heiden and the Hawkeyes are set to host their regular season home finale on Thursday, Feb. 26 against Illinois at 8 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will air on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
Heiden Named Naismith Player of the Week
Well of course Lauren Betts is going to be 1st team. Do they take 2 Centers?
Good question.
Ava's numbers are pretty impressive: 17.3 pts, 7.6 rebs, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks, 64% from the field and 70% from the FT line.
Ava Heiden - Iowa Hawkeyes Center - ESPN
View the profile of Iowa Hawkeyes Center Ava Heiden on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com
Heiden is a good bet, but perhaps not a lock, to be 1st team All Big. In conference play, she is 8th in scoring and 3rd in eFG%. Advanced stats love Heiden. She is 2nd in BIG play in Player Efficiency Rating, t3 in Box Plus-Minus, 8th in Win Shares, and 3rd in PER*Minutes (an estimate of a player’s total value based on per minute valued destined by Player Efficiency Rating).
Edit: Heiden also tied with Shay Ciezki with league-leading 3 BIG Player of the Week awards. Likely BIG Player of the Year Lauren Betts has 2 POW awards and likely POY runner up Jaloni Cambridge has 1 POW award.
Edit: Heiden also tied with Shay Ciezki with league-leading 3 BIG Player of the Week awards. Likely BIG Player of the Year Lauren Betts has 2 POW awards and likely POY runner up Jaloni Cambridge has 1 POW award.
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This gif is a keeper.
See below. Being in the same sentence with Caitlin is pretty cool.
AP Top 25
1. UConn....................................(29-0)
2. UCLA..........................................(27-1)
3. South Carolina.....(27-2)
4. Texas...........................................(26-3)
5. Vanderbilt........................(25-3)
6. LSU..................................................(24-4)
7. Oklahoma........................(21-6)
8. Michigan............................(22-5)
Stat to know: Ava Heiden recorded her third straight 20-point double-double, the longest such streak by an Iowa player since Caitlin Clark had four in March 2024.
What's next: Thursday, Feb 26 vs. Illinois, 8 pm CT, Big Ten Network
AP Top 25
1. UConn....................................(29-0)
2. UCLA..........................................(27-1)
3. South Carolina.....(27-2)
4. Texas...........................................(26-3)
5. Vanderbilt........................(25-3)
6. LSU..................................................(24-4)
7. Oklahoma........................(21-6)
8. Michigan............................(22-5)
9. IOWA..............(22-5)
Last week's ranking: 13Stat to know: Ava Heiden recorded her third straight 20-point double-double, the longest such streak by an Iowa player since Caitlin Clark had four in March 2024.
What's next: Thursday, Feb 26 vs. Illinois, 8 pm CT, Big Ten Network
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Here is my guess a week out at the ten members of the All-Big Ten First Team:
First place UCLA gets two, Betts and Rice; Iowa gets two (if they finish solo 2nd), Heiden and Stuelke; then six schools with one each, Cambridge, McMiller, Olson, Wallace, Okananwa and Davidson.
A really good list, except probably for Stuelke. Not sure she’s even in the top half of the 2nd team. Ciezki will make first team, IMO. Tied with Heiden for league lead in POW awards with 3. 3rd in BIG games scoring, 2nd in season long BIG players scoring. Heard an announcer say she is having the highest scoring 50/40/90 year in NCAA history. Can verify back to 2009–10 season.