IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa women’s basketball team has received a verbal commitment from 2025 center Layla Hays.

The 6-foot-5 Hays, who is from Wasilla, Alaska, announced her commitment to Iowa Saturday morning.

She picked the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers from Nebraska, Gonzaga, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Duke and North Carolina.

Hays announced her commitment to Iowa during her official visit, which included attending the Iowa football team’s 40-16 victory over Washington on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

Hays is ranked as a four-star recruit and is widely regarded as the top player from Alaska in the 2025 class.

She has earned all-conference and all-state accolades in both basketball and volleyball.

She is also ranked by espnW as the No. 68 recruit in the 2025 class.