While being the last to join Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen’s 2025 recruiting class, center Layla Hays’ commitment to the Hawkeyes was a perfect way to bookend a talented incoming group, as her signing showcases the broad-reaching appeal of Iowa athletics.
The 6-foot-5 center from Wasilla, Alaska, was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 71 player in the country by ESPN’s 2025 women’s basketball recruiting rankings. Hays chose the Hawkeyes over a finalists list that included Nebraska, Duke, North Carolina, Indiana, Washington, Illinois, and Gonzaga. She also held notable offers from Iowa State, Tennessee, Maryland, and Kansas State.
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During her past two years at Wasilla High School, she was a significant factor in the program’s tremendous success. Hays averaged 16.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots in 21 games as a junior and helped the Warriors win the ASAA Class 4A state title. Despite breaking her foot in February of her junior season, she did not miss a game, totaling 25 points, 33 rebounds, and ten blocks in three games at the state tournament. As a senior, Hays averaged 15.0 points per game and secured her second consecutive Alaska Player of the Year Award.
In a recent Q&A with HawkeyesReport’s Kyle Huesmann, she detailed what stood out about the Hawkeyes program over other talented options.
“As soon as I started talking to the coaches, something just felt different from the other schools. The culture, the support, how connected and close-knit the team is—those were the biggest things that stood out,” Hays said.
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When asked about a specific moment that put Iowa at the top of her list, she pointed to her first visit to Iowa City and shared her appreciation for the Hawkeyes’ faithful.
“On my first visit, I got to see a huge game and experience the amazing fans. That visit really gave me the feeling that this is where I wanted to be. On my last few visits, I found myself comparing every other school to Iowa, and that’s when I knew I needed to commit.”
As Ava Heiden enters her sophomore season with the Hawkeyes this fall, Hays will likely experience minutes off the bench similar to those Heiden received last season.
After finishing the 2024-25 season on a hot streak before falling to Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Hawkeyes should be a formidable threat atop the talent-riddled Big Ten this season and for years to come, with numerous skilled recruits coming into the program.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Layla Hays dissects decision to sign with Iowa women’s basketball
