Over the past two weeks, Iowa women’s basketball has had to balance more than just scouting reports, travel plans, and the difficulty of maintaining an undefeated record. Due to a string of injuries, the 14th-ranked Hawkeyes’ roster is now thinner than anticipated, especially in the backcourt. On Wednesday night, Iowa defeated Western Illinois 86–69 despite missing three rotation players: sophomore wing Emely Rodriguez and sophomore guards Chit-Chat Wright and Teagan Mallegni. The Hawkeyes were once again getting ready to play without a full deck as Fairfield entered Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday at 4-1 and full of confidence.
The most prominent absence is still Wright, who has been dealing with an upper-body injury since the Hawkeyes’ trip to the WBCA Showcase in Orlando. Particularly as the schedule gets more constrained, Iowa has missed her steady ball handling and ability to put pressure on opposing guards. When she’s not in uniform, the backcourt’s tempo clearly changes, and her presence frequently stabilizes Iowa’s pace. However, there are encouraging indications. Wright has recently been observed walking more comfortably, improving his movement, and engaging in light shooting exercises prior to games. The hope that she will return sooner rather than later has been bolstered by those tiny hints.
Mallegni’s predicament is simpler but nonetheless significant. The sophomore guard has been sidelined while she recovers from having her tonsils removed last Monday. Iowa’s perimeter depth suffers from her absence, particularly during periods when the Hawkeyes must rely on new shooters and defenders to maintain a fast pace. Mallegni has been establishing himself as a versatile reserve who contributes energy, length, and timely goals. According to associate head coach Jan Jensen, Iowa isn’t hurrying her back, and the schedule is still about a week. The staff wants her to be completely recovered, not to be in pain, and most definitely not to push through any potential chronic pain.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, is dealing with a back condition that has restricted her availability and mobility. The wing is an important part of Iowa’s rotation because of her athleticism and capacity to defend several positions. The Hawkeyes’ defensive adaptability, which frequently enables them to match up more freely against larger or smaller lineups, is diminished without her. Jensen characterized her as “day-to-day,” a description that strikes a balance between honesty and optimism. In order to avoid aggravating the injury while still participating in team activities, Iowa has been careful with her workload.
Mallegni and Rodriguez would not play in Sunday’s game against Fairfield, according to Iowa’s game-day availability report. Wright, on the other hand, was upgraded to questionable—a significant improvement considering that she had previously been completely disqualified. It indicates that her recuperation is going well and that she might soon be ready to play again, even though it doesn’t guarantee she’ll be on the floor. One bright spot in dealing with these injuries is that the Hawkeyes’ depth has been put to the test early on, and the players who have been called upon have responded with increasing assurance.
Jensen reaffirmed this conviction after Iowa’s victory over Western Illinois, in which they successfully controlled the game despite heavily relying on young players. “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. A realistic picture of the Hawkeyes’ current situation as they get ready for the next phase of their early-season schedule is painted by that level of openness combined with measured optimism.
These injuries occur at a very inconvenient time. The Big Ten Network will broadcast Iowa’s game against Fairfield on Sunday at noon CT as the team prepares for one of its more difficult December runs. Following that, the Hawkeyes travel to play Rutgers in person on December 6 before preparing for the yearly Cy-Hawk game at Iowa State on December 10, which is always intense regardless of records or rankings. After a game against Lindenwood, one of the schedule’s key dates is Iowa vs. UConn on December 20, which will be broadcast nationally on Fox.
The Hawkeyes have already demonstrated their capacity to overcome hardship by persevering through a number of early-season setbacks while holding a perfect 7-0 record. However, the return of players like Wright, Mallegni, and Rodriguez could mean the difference between Iowa just getting by and winning games as the competition gets more intense. Iowa continues to rely on its depth, discipline, and growing chemistry for the time being, knowing that reinforcements are on the way, if not quite yet.
