In the modern era of college athletics, NIL deals are becoming part of the normal conversation, but for Iowa Hawkeyes teammates Hannah Stuelke and Taylor McCabe, being "better together" isn't just a marketing slogan. For these two, it has become the philosophy that drives how they lead the team and how they compete, particularly as March Madness is underway.
Stuelke and McCabe are at the heart of Iowa's top-10 squad, blending talent with on and off-court partnerships that strengthen team chemistry. From the locker room to NIL campaigns, these two are proving that success in college basketball isn't just about the stats, it's about trust, collaboration, and leaving a legacy...together.
Visit orlando-books.blog for more information.
Hawkeyes Building Momentum at the Right Time
After finishing 26-6 overall and 15-3 in Big Ten play, Iowa advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game following decisive wins over Illinois (64-58) and Michigan (58-42). The Hawkeyes entered the final matchup with momentum before ultimately falling to UCLA, 96-45. Despite the loss, Iowa remains one of the nation’s top teams, currently sitting at No. 7 nationally in the latest USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll.
As Selection Sunday approaches, the Hawkeyes remain projected to host NCAA Tournament games, positioning themselves for another potential postseason run.
Decorated Leaders Driving Iowa
Stuelke finished the regular 2025-26 season with significant national recognition. The senior forward was named a Preseason First Team All-Big Ten selection, landing on several major national watch lists, including the Naismith Trophy National Player of the Year, the Katrina McClain Award, and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.
McCabe’s career résumé is just as impressive as one of Iowa’s most reliable perimeter shooters and leaders. During the 2024-25 season, she became the 21st Hawkeye to reach 100 career three-pointers, recording 10 career games with four or more made threes, ranking seventh among Iowa players since 2009. She also delivered multiple standout performances, including two 17-point games while shooting 5-of-8 from three-point range against Penn State and Nebraska. McCabe also earned Academic All-Big Ten and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
Her season, however, took an unexpected turn when she suffered a season-ending ACL injury early in a game against Ohio State, a setback she approached with the same perspective she brought to the court. Even while sidelined, McCabe has remained a steady source of support for her teammates during Iowa’s postseason run, staying connected to the team’s chemistry. Her approach to teamwork perfectly embodies the spirit of the “Better Together” NIL campaign she shares with Stuelke.
NIL in Action
Stuelke and McCabe are the new faces of UScellular’s “Better Together” campaign, which celebrates how relationships and teamwork off the court can amplify performance on the court. College Sports Wire spoke with the teammates about the future of NIL, Iowa’s mindset heading into March, and how the message behind their campaign mirrors the culture for the team.
"I think that being together and being in such a competitive standpoint in such a competitive sport is really important because it just helps us build each other up and build up confidence," McCabe explained. "And especially for the end of the year, when this is our final season, we just want to spend as much time as we can together, keep creating memories, and leave our legacy on the program."
"I feel like it's really important to make time for the things that people believe in," Stuelke added. "So, us working together and continuing to do something that's really important to us and thinking about that out there, showing people that we are normal people, that we love each other, and that we listen to each other—that’s something super important for us to put out there."
Leadership and Chemistry
Both McCabe and Stuelke stepped into significant leadership roles in the locker room after Iowa’s former star player moved on, showing off their skills and camaraderie both on and off the court. Their chemistry is rooted in deep respect for one another's game.
"I think Taylor is really basketball smart, well, she's smart in general. She's going to be an engineer, the smartest person I know, and basketball-wise, she’s really smart as well," Stuelke said with a smile when asked about McCabe's leadership skills. "The way her brain works when she's out on the court—she's always in the right spot, she always knows what she's doing. And when you're watching basketball, you’re not thinking about how many things are going through our minds or how many different places we need to be in. I know, because I’m on the court with her, she’s always in the right spot. She's just the best in the world."
"I think that Hannah has really broken out of her shell these last few years, and with that has come this fire and fierceness that I don’t think a lot of people see," Taylor said about underestimating Hannah on the court. "When our competition goes up against Hannah, they have no match for her in that category. They can try to stop her all they want, but even recently, she's proved that if you think you've got her stopped, if there's any time left, she can turn any game around. She has that factor of fierceness to her, and she’s such a competitor."
The bond between these two extends beyond game strategy on the court. It is a calm yet powerful force that has helped Iowa stay composed under pressure.
March Madness Mindset
As Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament approach, the duo is staying focused on maintaining the culture and poise that have propelled the Hawkeyes deep into the postseason in recent years.
"I think people underestimated us early on. I understand why, because we were young, and we didn't have as much success last year as we would have wanted," McCabe noted. "It's our second year in the Jan Jensen era, and people thought maybe we were still rebuilding. But if we make the run we are hoping to make, people will be really supportive and excited, maybe even surprised...even though we were never surprised."
Steulke agreed, "After Catilin left, people thought we would fall off the face of the earth, and we'd never be anything ever again because of how much she did for our program and our school. But we have built ourselves back up. And so fast, many teams take a long time to build back up. How hard we've worked to get back is something that people will be noticing."
How Iowa Keeps NIL From Dividing the Locker Room
Beyond this season, both players are aware that NIL opportunities are reshaping college sports. Stuelke and McCabe said maintaining team chemistry in the new NIL era of college sports comes down to mutual support and respect within the locker room. The team doesn’t spend time openly discussing individual deals; it's an unspoken rule among teammates. Instead, the players try to celebrate each other’s opportunities.
McCabe noted that Iowa players often show their support by engaging with one another’s promotional posts and encouraging teammates who step outside their comfort zones to pursue partnerships. “It takes a lot of courage, especially when you’re younger, to reach out and do stuff like that,” McCabe said. “We definitely want to reward people for doing that and getting out of their comfort zone. But it's also just cool to see everyone working with different people and showing stuff that they believe. So, we definitely want to be supportive, and I think that it just helps build each other up, which in turn creates more chemistry on the court too."
Stuelke agreed, adding that the focus has always remained on unity rather than comparison. “We’re all really supportive of each other and our different endeavors,” she said. “It’s about lifting each other up and even passing along opportunities.”
How Players See NIL Evolving
Looking ahead, both players believe the NIL landscape in the sport will continue to evolve, especially as athletes, coaches, and individual programs learn how to balance opportunity with the demands of college athletics.
McCabe said Iowa’s coaching staff helps its players navigate the process by encouraging them to be selective and strategic about partnerships during the season. “It’s definitely going to keep growing,” McCabe said. “But it's probably going to change a little bit as well, as coaches learn what works and what doesn’t. Our coaches do a great job telling us not to overload ourselves during the season and to be smart about scheduling things.” She added that choosing the right partnerships is just as important as the opportunities themselves, which made the “Better Together” campaign especially meaningful.
Stuelke agreed, emphasizing the importance of discernment as NIL continues to expand. “You have to think carefully about where you put your name and what you want to represent,” she said. “There are some things you shouldn't put your name on, especially as high-level athletes. I think that UScellular has done a great job, and I really align with it. Taylor obviously does as well. It's been a great thing for us.”
As Iowa prepares for Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament, McCabe and Stuelke understand that the spotlight of March Madness focuses on wins, losses, and standout performances. But behind the scenes, the foundation of the Hawkeyes' season is built on something simpler. In an era where NIL deals often spotlight an individual athlete, the message between these two is clear: the strongest teams are still built on support, a shared purpose, and teammates who believe in one another. And for Iowa, being "Better Together" isn't just a campaign slogan, it is the culture that has carried the Hawkeyes to this very moment.
Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke, Taylor McCabe discuss NIL and team chemistry