Hawkeyes are getting ready to play No. 1 UConn without one of their rotation players as No. 12 Iowa women’s basketball prepares to leave Iowa City for one of the biggest nonconference tests of the season. According to a report from On3’s Talia Goodman, Iowa will be without guard/forward Emely Rodriguez for Saturday’s game in Brooklyn because the sophomore is currently serving an indefinite suspension for breaking team rules.
The Hawkeyes, who are 10-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play, will play the undefeated Huskies (11-0) in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic at the Barclays Center. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised nationally on Fox. Although Iowa was aware that it would be facing the nation’s top-ranked team, Rodriguez’s absence makes the already difficult task even more difficult.
The Dominican Republic’s Rodriguez, a 6-foot sophomore, hasn’t played since early December. Her absence was initially explained by a persistent back injury. But according to Goodman’s report on Thursday, Rodriguez’s predicament goes beyond his health, with the suspension being indefinite but not necessarily permanent. Rodriguez has the chance to rejoin the team if she “recommits to the standards,” according to sources mentioned in the report.
Before being sidelined, Rodriguez had been giving Iowa valuable minutes on the court. She shot 42.5% from the field and an effective 80% from the free-throw line in six games this season, averaging 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Her athleticism and versatility gave Iowa lineup flexibility, especially on the wing, even though her stat line wasn’t particularly noteworthy.
When asked about Rodriguez in recent weeks, head coach Jan Jensen has been cautious in what she says. Jensen gave a succinct response when asked about Rodriguez’s injury status earlier this week. “With that one, it’s still day-to-day,” Jensen stated on Tuesday. There was no public indication at the time that anything other than injury was involved.
Rodriguez missed his third straight home game after Iowa’s most recent victory over Lindenwood. Another noteworthy aspect of the game was that, for the first time, Rodriguez was never seen on the Hawkeyes bench. Jensen responded calmly on Tuesday when asked if Rodriguez was still with the team and if her absence was still due to an injury. Jensen stated, “She is as of right now.”
Jensen had given more information about Rodriguez’s back problem earlier this month. Jensen clarified that the injury might have happened during a practice trip to Florida or soon after the team returned in an interview on December 9 prior to Iowa’s trip to Iowa State. Jensen explained, “It was either a tweak right after we returned or while we were in Florida following a practice.” “The rehabilitation hasn’t progressed to the point where she feels comfortable going back.”
Rodriguez transferred from UCF, where she had an instant impact as a freshman, to Iowa City this offseason. She averaged 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game during her one and only season with the Knights, earning her a spot on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. She demonstrated the all-around skill set that made her a desirable addition for the Hawkeyes by shooting 40.9% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 75.3% from the free-throw line.
The timing is not at all ideal for Iowa. Playing UConn on a national platform is the type of game that puts focus, discipline, and depth to the test. It’s one thing to lose a player to injury; it’s quite another to deal with a suspension at such a prominent time. However, the Hawkeyes have placed a strong emphasis on perseverance throughout the season, and Saturday will present another chance to exhibit that mentality. It’s unclear if Rodriguez will make a comeback later in the season. For the time being, Iowa’s focus is entirely on Brooklyn, where the Hawkeyes will attempt to compete against the best team in college basketball without one of their contributors. Instead, they will rely on unity, preparation, and faith as they take on the top team in the country.
