Hawkeyes vs. USC Injury Update: Iowa Women Will See Significant Lineup Changes Before the Big Game As the No. 8 Iowa women’s basketball team (18-2, 9-0 Big Ten) got ready to play USC (11-9, 3-6 Big Ten) at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on January 29, the most recent Hawkeyes injury update against USC revealed a ton of shocking information that could completely alter Iowa’s season. Iowa’s rotation was expected to change significantly on Thursday night due to the mounting number of injuries, and not in a good way.
Tough Blow: Taylor McCabe Out for Season
One of the Hawkeyes’ most adaptable defenders and a crucial perimeter scorer, senior guard Taylor McCabe tore his left ACL during Iowa’s victory over Ohio State on January 25. As a result, he will be out for the remainder of the season. The Hawkeyes’ lineup was immediately impacted by McCabe’s injury, which happened early in the game, forcing Jan Jensen to completely revise her backcourt strategies. For a team that relied on McCabe in late-game situations and was among the best defensive units in the country, this is a huge loss. Iowa Women’s Basketball Season Outlook
Rodriguez & Gyamfi Still Sidelined
Additionally, Iowa confirmed that sophomore wing Emely Rodriguez would miss her fifteenth consecutive game due to a persistent problem that has prevented her from playing for the majority of the season. One of Iowa’s top shooters and perimeter scorers is no longer in the rotation due to Rodriguez’s absence, which probably means that younger guards and bench players will have to play more.
Senior forward Jada Gyamfi, still rehabbing from a knee procedure performed in December, was also listed as unavailable. With McCabe’s season now coming to an early end, Gyamfi’s physicality and experience in the paint have been greatly missed.
USC’s Injury Picture: Samuels Out, JuJu Watkins Already Done
Health issues are also affecting the Trojans. USC’s backcourt unit lost a crucial rotation member when junior guard Malia Samuels was ruled out. Before her absence, Samuels was averaging about 3.5 points per game in addition to her contributions in steals, rebounds, and assists. Big Ten Women’s Basketball Power Rankings
JuJu Watkins, who chose to sit out while recovering from a torn ACL sustained on March 24, 2025, has had the biggest impact on USC’s roster. Watkins’ loss is a major storyline in women’s college basketball — she was one of the Pac-12’s elite scorers and a bona-fide matchup nightmare before her injury.
Projected Lineups Shift Dramatically
With the absence of McCabe, Rodriguez, Gyamfi, Samuels, and Watkins, Thursday’s anticipated starting five did not resemble the lineup that Jan Jensen started the season with. Iowa’s depth on the bench was thrown into the spotlight right away.
Veteran leaders like Hannah Stuelke were given even greater offensive loads, and freshman wings and guards were expected to record career-high minutes. Stuelke is already among the nation’s most effective bigs thanks to her recent performances, but Iowa needs steady contributions from players all over the lineup to keep its national ranking.
Game Night Preview: Strategy and Storylines The game on Thursday night (8 p.m. CT, streamed on Peacock) was a strategic chess match rather than just another regular-season encounter. Coaches had to rely on depth and matchups because both teams’ key players were sidelined.
In order to make up for McCabe’s absence, Iowa’s defensive strategies were anticipated to change, emphasizing zone coverages and help rotations more. In the meantime, USC’s backcourt appeared to be largely dependent on whoever could fill in for Watkins and Samuels.
What This Means for Big Ten Play and Beyond
Iowa’s Big Ten title path and NCAA Tournament profile are altered by the Hawkeyes injury update against USC, which impacts more than just one game. Every Big Ten contender has an opportunity to profit from the loss of a senior leader like McCabe and the continued unavailability of two rotation players, particularly with upcoming road games. Fans and analysts will be keeping an eye on Jan Jensen’s handling of minutes and rotations in the final stretch of the regular season as March approaches.
