No high school sport has a storied history like Iowa girls basketball.
As the oldest sanctioned IGHSAU sport, girls began playing high school basketball in the 1920s, even when many people believed they should not play. But the enthusiasm for the sport and the annual state tournament ignited passion for the game. In fact, the Iowa Girls State High School Basketball tournament is the oldest girls’ high school tournament of its kind and has been known for its great basketball and exciting half-time shows. Iowa girls basketball was played in a six-on-six format until 1994, when all school districts switched to five-on-five. Today, the sport is still an audience favorite, culminating in the one-of-kind state tournament and encouraging Iowa girls to develop team-building skills and lifelong friendships. IGHSAU currently have five classes of basketball with more than 7,500 girls playing.
Basketball Season Information
Dates & Guidelines
The following dates and guidelines are approved for the 2026-2027 school year.
First practice: Monday, November 9th
Jamboree date allowance: Monday, November 9th through date of first game
One jamboree allowed per school; maximum of two 8-minute quarters
First game: Friday, November 20th (Member schools are not permitted to play any interscholastic basketball game from December 24th through January 1st. This does not exclude the school from practicing or using one of its scrimmages if they desire).
Playing dates: 21 games (12 for junior high)
Scrimmages: 3
Bound reporting dates: Bound will be checked every Tuesday during regular season
Regional Tournaments:
Class 1A: February 11, 16, 19, 24
Class 2A: February 13, 16, 19, 24
Class 3A: February 13, 17, 20
Class 4A and 5A: February 17, 20, 23
State Tournament: March 1st- 6th, 2027 at Casey's Center in Des Moines
Official tournament ball: Spalding TF1000 Legacy (Women’s)
Classifications:
5A - 40
4A - 48
3A - 64
2A - 80
1A - remaining schools
Individual and Team Participation Limitations
Each individual player has a 21-game season limitation at each level (if you have a 22nd game, each individual player would be allowed a 22-game limitation at each level). For example, on one day, the school may have a JV and varsity girls basketball doubleheader. The student would be able to play in 4 quarters in the JV game and then play in 4 quarters in the varsity game on that day. That would count then as one game towards the 21-game JV limit and one game towards the 21-game varsity limit.
Schools may participate in up to two games on a non-school day. No junior varsity teams are allowed in varsity tournaments.
Junior high students have a 12-game season limitation. Junior high students may play in no more than six quarters a day. Participation in 1–6 quarters in a day constitutes participation in one game. Junior high students are limited to one game per day on a school day. No junior high jamborees or tournaments are permitted. A junior high team is allowed to play in two games on a non-school day. The player limit is eight quarters for that day.
Academic Eligibility
Academic eligibility resumes as 12:01 a.m. on December 10th. (20-days starting with first competition date of November 20th.
