5 storylines to follow during Wednesday's Iowa vs. Iowa State women's basketball game

AMES — Wednesday's Cy-Hawk women's basketball game has all the storylines you could possibly want: Two of the sport's best players battling against each other, two iconic coaches going head to head and two top-20 teams squaring off.

The Cy-Hawk rivalry always has plenty on the line. But there is even more at stake and even more to follow this year when No. 13 Iowa takes on No. 16 Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

"Hopefully," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said, "the game will be whatever everyone wants it to be."

Here are five storylines to follow.

MORE: Lisa Bluder gets career win No. 800 as Iowa crushes Michigan State

Storyline No. 1: Clark vs. Joens, Round 2

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder tried to downplay last season’s matchup, saying that it wasn’t a showdown between Ashley Joens and Caitlin Clark. But that’s exactly what it turned into.

The Iowa natives were the stars of the show. Clark, a graduate of Dowling Catholic, hit a step-back 3-pointer with 22 seconds left to give the Hawkeyes the win. She finished with 34 points. Joens, a graduate of Iowa City High, poured in 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The two, who played with each other in AAU, are the central points for their team's offenses. So, the question is: What can they do for a follow-up act this season?

"I think more than anything it's just really good for our state," Clark said. "You want that excitement around women's basketball. You want people to be excited about the players and the rivalry and this matchup."

Storyline No. 2: Kylie Feuerbach makes her return to Hilton Colisuem ... as a visitor

Feuerbach was part of one of the most decorated recruiting classes in Iowa State history in 2020. She played one season for the Cyclones and started 24 of 28 games last season, including the first- and second-round games of the NCAA Tournament.

She was a critical piece of Iowa State’s success, averaging 5.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. But Feuerbach surprisingly bolted from Iowa State and transferred to Iowa for what she has called a better fit.

Wednesday will be her first game at Hilton Coliseum as a visitor. But she won't be coming back as just a visitor. She'll be returning as a rival.

Is she ready for it?

"I think it's the best to expect the worst," Feuerbach said.

More: Iowa State's Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw makes emotional return to play in first game in nearly a year

Storyline No. 3: Can Iowa State end Iowa's winning streak?

The Hawkeyes have a 29-22 advantage over Iowa State in the series. But the past five games have been among the most exciting or painful, depending on which side you cheer for.

Iowa has won five straight in the series. And there’s been plenty of tension along the way, with four of those matchups being decided by 6 or fewer points. Last year’s game was especially excruciating for the Cyclones, with Iowa rallying from a 17-point deficit to topple Iowa State 82-80.

Is this the season Iowa State finally ends the Hawkeye winning streak? It'll be a tough challenge for Iowa, which is 8-14 at Hilton. The Hawkeyes have been preparing for a hostile Hilton crowd by blaring music during practice this week.

"We know it's going to be an extremely tough game," Bluder said. "We know that they have this circled."

More: A more confident Caitlin Clark? Iowa's superstar says she's even better this season

Storyline No. 4: A big true test for both teams

There are high hopes for both programs this season. And while it's early in the season, both teams are living up to the hype.

Iowa, which was picked to finish third in the Big Ten Conference, is off to a 5-1 start. The Hawkeyes' lone loss came at Duke following a COVID-19 pause for the team. Iowa State, which was picked to finish tied for second in the Big 12 Conference, has rolled to an 8-1 start. The Cyclones' only loss came at LSU, with Iowa State missing three key contributors. Now that the Hawkeyes have had some time to get back into a rhythm and Iowa State has welcomed back Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, the two teams could get a good gauge about where things stand for them.

"I think this is one of the best teams they've had in the last several years," Bluder said.

Storyline No. 5: Two iconic coaches will be sharing the sidelines

Fennelly and Bluder are among the most accomplished coaches in college basketball. Fennelly, who is in his 27th season at Iowa State, has won 714 games during his coaching career. And it’s already been a big month for Bluder, who secured her 800th career win with a victory over Michigan State. Bluder became the 14th Division I women’s coach and fifth active coach to reach the milestone.

"I think it just speaks to the kids that we’re able to recruit," Bluder said. "These Iowa kids have been fabulous for both of us. We’ve reaped the benefits of really good AAU programs and really good high school coaches."

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What to watch for in Iowa women's basketball's game against Iowa State