Holding Their Breath: Iowa Women’s Basketball Fights Adversity, Pain, and Absences While Key Players Recuperate This season, the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team has jumped out to a 7-0 start, but it hasn’t been easy. There has been a quiet battle going on behind the victories and smiles, one that took place in the training room rather than on the scoreboard.
Three of Iowa’s young core players have been sidelined in recent weeks: sophomore wing Emely Rodriguez, sophomore guards Chit-Chat Wright and Teagan Mallegni. Even though the team is still winning a lot of games, it’s getting harder to overlook the psychological and physical effects of those absences. The Hawkeyes, ranked 14th, were once more short-staffed in their 86-69 victory over Western Illinois. Wright, who has been recovering from an upper-body injury since Iowa’s trip to the WBCA Showcase in Orlando, watched from the bench as her teammates persevered through yet another demanding game. Being sidelined hasn’t been easy for a competitor who is renowned for her spark and defensive edge.
Teagan Mallegni, meanwhile, is still recuperating from a tonsillectomy she had last week. Although it seems like a minor procedure, it can leave even the most resilient athletes exhausted and grounded for days. The versatile wing with grit and length on both ends, Emely Rodriguez, is still battling a persistent back problem that has hindered her development. For a team that is playing some of its best basketball, it is an odd irony. They are unbeaten, rising in the polls, and demonstrating that they can win with any player. However, despite that achievement, there is a persistent feeling of vulnerability that serves as a reminder that depth is limited.
Prior to Sunday’s game against Fairfield (4-1), Iowa’s game day availability report confirmed what many had feared: Wright was listed as questionable, and both Mallegni and Rodriguez would stay out. Still, there was a tiny glimmer of hope when her status was elevated. Perhaps soon, if not today. Assistant coach Jan Jensen provided updates following Friday’s victory that were both hopeful and realistic. “Chit-Chat is still day-to-day, and Emely is day-to-day,” Jensen remarked. “When I watch her move around, I do see progress. Teagan will also likely be around a week.
Jensen’s words exuded a steady calm, the kind that leaders adopt in the face of uncertainty. Nevertheless, it was evident that this team is learning to persevere. And that perseverance has been demonstrated. The team’s chemistry has tightened, role players have gained confidence, and Iowa’s veterans have stepped up. Even though three well-known faces are still absent from pregame warm-ups, they have managed to flourish without complaining.
But don’t be mistaken the absence is noticeable. It is impossible to simply replace Rodriguez’s rebounding presence, Mallegni’s fluid scoring rhythm, and Wright’s defensive hustle. Due to their injuries, Iowa has had to change rotations, rely on its bench, and overcome hardship to rediscover its identity. In between plays, when teammates look to the bench and see three players who want nothing more than to be out there fighting with them, there’s also an emotional burden that lingers.
The Hawkeyes’ culture is being put to the test most here. They are now united by the same fire that has propelled their seven consecutive victories. Coaches have rearranged tactics, players have alternately filled in for absentees, and devoted supporters have continued to fill Carver-Hawkeye Arena with that recognizable electric energy. Fairfield is another test for Iowa’s resilience as well as its record. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the tipoff nationally at noon CT, giving fans another opportunity to witness a team that perseveres despite being bruised.
Staying undefeated is not the only goal for Iowa during this stretch. It’s about making it through the grind. It’s about accepting the unpleasant, exhausting, and uncertain aspects of a protracted season. Eventually, Wright, Mallegni, and Rodriguez will return, and Iowa might come out stronger after enduring their absence. Until then, the Hawkeyes are depending on the same quality that has characterized their recent success: grit. They now understand that greatness is based on perseverance rather than just highlight reels and blowouts. based on faith. On teammates who, despite being unable to play, continue to cheer from the bench.
A common belief that permeates Carver-Hawkeye as the crowd roars is that Iowa’s best basketball is still ahead, not because of these injuries but rather because of how the team has responded to them.
