Before their matchup with UConn, Iowa Women’s Basketball provides a cautious injury update
With the decisive victory, the Hawkeyes raised their record to 10-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play, demonstrating both their offensive and defensive prowess. However, the discussion soon turned from the scoreboard to the availability of two important players, especially Wright, whose absence in the second half caused concern. Wright, a 5-foot-4 sophomore guard, started the game against Lindenwood and finished with five points while shooting 1-for-4 from the free-throw line and 2-for-6 from the field. She did not, however, go back to the bench after halftime, a choice Jensen claimed was made more out of caution than necessity.
“I feel like we’re just being really cautious,” Jensen explained. “I think after that injury that she had, she was a little bit concerned and nervous about it, so we thought, ‘Let’s chill it.’”
Given Wright’s recent past, the cautious approach makes sense. She had previously missed three games due to a hard fall she sustained during Iowa’s game against Baylor on November 20. The injury was identified as an upper-body problem, and although Wright made a comeback on December 7, she was substituted out of the game on Saturday for the third time in a row due to the incident’s aftereffects. Jensen admitted that during the Lindenwood game, she didn’t see any clear physical trigger that made Wright uncomfortable. Crucially, she also underlined that the issue does not seem to be head-related, allaying concerns about a concussion or other similar problem.
For a Hawkeye team that greatly depends on Wright’s consistent presence at the point, that assurance is important. Her ability to control tempo, start offense, and apply pressure defensively has been crucial to Iowa’s impressive start, even when she isn’t filling the stat sheet. Although Wright’s predicament garnered the most attention, Jensen also mentioned Emely Rodriguez’s situation in passing. Jensen didn’t provide much information other than stating that the guard/forward’s availability is uncertain due to her ongoing back injury.
“There’s a lot of things I’m trying to figure out with that one,” Jensen said. “So it’s definitely day-to-day.”
Although Iowa has found ways to make up for Rodriguez’s injury, which has limited her consistency in the rotation, the coaching staff would still like to have her versatility fully available as competition heats up. Fortunately, the Hawkeyes have some leeway in their schedule. Before returning to the national scene, Iowa will now have a full week to rest, recuperate, and get ready. There’s a big challenge ahead.
Jensen’s message is clear for the time being: be patient, exercise caution, and have faith in the process. The team has been able to weather these setbacks thanks to Iowa’s depth, and it is hoped that both Wright and Rodriguez will be able to play at their best when it counts most. The Hawkeyes are still among the best teams in the country, and although injuries are a part of the journey, Iowa’s strategy shows that the program is looking beyond the next game and toward the larger picture that lies ahead later in the season.
