Sophomore transfer guard Callie Levin has been voted one of three team captains ahead of her first season with the Northern Iowa women’s basketball program, following a two-year stint with the Iowa Hawkeyes where she made 29 total appearances, according to UNI Athletics and local reporting by KCRG.
The Bottom Line
- Callie Levin secured a leadership role immediately upon arrival, voted as one of three team captains for the upcoming season.
- The Panthers were selected fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll heading into the campaign.
- Levin arrives in Cedar Falls after playing 115 total minutes across 19 games during her sophomore year at Iowa, where she earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Preseason Expectations and Roster Integration
As the program prepares for competitive play on October 28, 2026, the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll placed the Panthers fourth in the league standings. Head coach Tanya Warren pointed to Levin’s consistent communication and work ethic as key drivers for her rapid integration into the roster. Warren noted that Levin’s demeanor remains entirely steady regardless of her scoring output on the floor.
BREAKING: Former Miss Iowa Basketball winner Callie Levin is heading to UNI.The former Hawkeye will rep the purple and gold this year!#iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/kKzyniqeWl
Levin expressed enthusiasm regarding her new environment and the immediate trust shown by her peers. “I want to be a leader, right from the start on the court,” Levin said, as reported by KCRG. “Just being able to have my teammates trust me from the get-go is huge. I love these girls and what we’ve been able to do this summer, and so yeah, being chosen as a captain is amazing.” She added that she would not trade her two seasons in Iowa City for anything.
Collegiate Experience and High School Pedigree
During her sophomore campaign at Iowa in 2025–26, Levin appeared in 19 games and logged 23 total points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, as detailed in the UNI Athletics Roster. In her freshman season, she played 10 games and scored her first career points against Murray State in the NCAA Tournament. Her limited playing time in the Big Ten yielded valuable postseason experience before entering the transfer portal.
Before her time in the Big Ten, Levin put together a decorated career at Solon High School. She finished with 1,984 career points, 535 rebounds, 412 assists, and 417 steals. Her senior year featured averages of 22 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.8 steals per contest, earning her recognition as Miss Iowa Basketball and the USA TODAY Iowa Player of the Year for 2024.
Conference Outlook and Campaign Preparation
The transition from a reserve role in a major conference to a leadership position in the Missouri Valley presents a distinct shift in operational demands for the 5-foot-9 guard. Warren previously highlighted Levin’s multi-level scoring ability and defensive versatility across multiple positions when her signing was first announced in April 2026.
With the Panthers slotted fourth in the conference preseason projections, the leadership group—consisting of Levin and her fellow co-captains—faces the task of converting summer preparation into regular-season execution. The coaching staff expects her high-volume high school production and competitive AAU background, which includes a Nike National Championship with the All Iowa Attack, to translate into productive floor minutes.
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