The future of Iowa women's basketball is looking bright, and the Hawkeyes just received a significant vote of confidence on the recruiting trail. Payton Starwalt, a highly-touted point guard in the class of 2027, has included Iowa in her list of top 10 schools.

Standing at 5-foot-7, Starwalt is a dynamic playmaker from Albany, Oregon, who is already turning heads as a premier three-point specialist. She is currently ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 2 point guard in her state for the 2027 class, according to Prep Girls Hoops.

Her junior season at West Albany High School was nothing short of historic. Starwalt led her team to both a Mid-Willamette League title and a Class 5A state championship while putting up staggering numbers: 26.8 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 steals per game. Her shooting efficiency was elite, hitting 57% on two-pointers, 43% from beyond the arc, and 90% from the free-throw line. Most impressively, she shattered the Oregon single-season record by draining 136 three-pointers.

While the Hawkeyes have not yet extended a formal offer, making Starwalt's top 10 is a promising sign. She is considering a mix of powerhouse programs, including Arkansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and Big Ten conference rival UCLA.

For Iowa fans, this news is an exciting glimpse into the program's long-term vision. As the team builds its 2027 recruiting class, currently anchored by four-star commit Jada Seubert, adding a floor general of Starwalt's caliber would be a major coup. Her record-breaking shooting and championship pedigree are exactly the kind of traits that thrive in Iowa's system, suggesting the Hawkeyes' high-octane brand of basketball is poised to continue for years to come.