Whiting brings plenty of Power Four starting experience to the Hawkeyes.
Though Iowa women's basketball's season has been over for over two months, the coaching staff is just now catching its breath.
That's because Iowa has been diligently scouting, recruiting, and signing players to add to its 2026 transfer portal class. It's hard work, and the players that do eventually sign don't always pan out for some teams.
The jury is still out on the Hawkeyes' four-member transfer class, but Iowa feels like it has a group of players that only adds more firepower to an already-talented roster that went 27-7 overall and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament in 2025-26.
Dani Carnegie is probably the biggest name to come out of this bunch, but don't sleep on Oklahoma State transfer Amari Whiting, either. Whiting may not have the stats that Carnegie has, but she's got the Power Four pedigree to be a key contributor for Iowa in 2026-27.
The Rundown
Like Carnegie, Whiting arrives in Iowa City on her third school in as many years. The Burley, Idaho native spent her first two seasons of college basketball for BYU, where she was coached by her mother, Amber Whiting.
Whiting was also coached by her mother during her high school career in Burley, and she started every game for the Cougars through her two seasons there, averaging roughly 10 points per game in both seasons. BYU qualified for the WBIT in Whiting's freshman campaign, but the floor fell out from under the Cougars in 2024-25.
Amber Whiting was fired after BYU's 13-17 campaign, forcing her daughter to find another program. That search led Whiting to Oklahoma State, where she started all 34 games and helped the Cowgirls to a 24-10 record and second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance under head coach Jacie Hoyt.
But the drive to compete for championships was too much for Whiting, and she decided to transfer to one of the nation's top women's basketball programs - Iowa.
“Iowa has a team full of girls that just wanna win and play the right way. "And that’s who I am,“ Whiting told HawkFanatic. "They also develop their girls and believe in them to get the best out of them. I just fit in with the girls really well. It was easy to talk to them and get to know them. And overall the visit just was a lot of fun with everybody.”
Analysis
Before looking at Whiting's stats or her tape, the thing that sticks out the most is her experience. Very few players can say they've started every single game of the Power Four career, but Whiting has done just that. She's going to be the only senior on Iowa's roster this year, so that experience will be put to the test immediately during the Hawkeyes' brutal November non-conference schedule (Connecticut, Vanderbilt).
There's not one particular area of Whiting's game that is dominant, but when you watch her play, you see all of the traits that make up a winning basketball player. Whiting is a capable three-point shooter (32% in 2026), but what impresses me the most is her ability to finish with contact and be a workhorse on the glass.
Guards aren't often good rebounders, but Whiting has been consistent on the boards throughout her career, averaging 5.9 rebounds per game for Oklahoma State last season - second-best on the team.
And let's not forget about Whiting's defense, either. She was one of the Cowgirls' best defenders a year ago, often locking down her opposition and recording 1.8 steals per game.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
