By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Iowa’s women’s basketball team, coming off its appearance in the NCAA tournament national championship game, will face another Final Four team in the opening week of the 2023-24 season.

The Hawkeyes will play Virginia Tech in the Ally Tipoff in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 9. The game will be televised on an ESPN network.

Both teams lost to national champion LSU at the Final Four — Virginia Tech fell to the Tigers in the semifinal.

“We are excited to take our team to Charlotte this November and play a quality team such as Virginia Tech, who joined us in the Final Four last season,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “This will be another great opportunity to showcase our sport on the national stage and create exposure for our university.”

The Hawkeyes, coming off a 31-7 season, bring back national player of the year Caitlin Clark for her senior season, along with starters Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. Hannah Stuelke, the Big Ten’s Sixth Player of the Year, also returns.

Iowa’s nonconference schedule also includes a road game against NCAA tournament qualifier Iowa State and a neutral-court game against Cleveland State, an NCAA tournament team last season, in Des Moines. Iowa also as a road game against in-state rival Northern Iowa and a home game against in-state rival and NCAA tournament qualifier Drake.

Photo: Iowa’s Kate Martin (20) and Hannah Stuelke celebrate after the Hawkeyes’ win over Indiana last season. (Keith Gillett/Icon SportsWire)