On Thursday night, Iowa women’s basketball achieved a significant early-season victory, but it was accompanied by a troubling moment. In the WBCA Showcase at State Farm Fieldhouse in Orlando, No. 20 Iowa defeated No. 10 Baylor, 57–52, thanks to a standout performance by sophomore center Ava Heiden. Heiden dominated the paint in what ended up being a defensive slugfest, leading the Hawkeyes with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
However, after Iowa’s sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright was hurt early in the third quarter, the festivities were subdued. Wright came down hard after being fouled on a shot attempt, and she remained on the ground for a few minutes while trainers assessed her. Eventually, the 5-foot-4 sparkplug was able to stand, but two Iowa employees had to carry him off the court. Wright will miss Saturday’s game against Miami, head coach Jan Jensen informed the Hawkeye Radio Network after the game. This is a devastating blow given the Hurricanes’ potent defense.
However, after Iowa’s sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright was hurt early in the third quarter, the festivities were subdued. Wright came down hard after being fouled on a shot attempt, and she remained on the ground for a few minutes while trainers assessed her. Eventually, the 5-foot-4 sparkplug was able to stand, but two Iowa employees had to carry him off the court. Wright will miss Saturday’s game against Miami, head coach Jan Jensen informed the Hawkeye Radio Network after the game. This is a devastating blow given the Hurricanes’ potent defense.
It will be a very different game because Miami uses about six different presses, according to Jensen. “Our press breaker will put us to the test. Unfortunately, it’s without Chit-Chat, and that makes things a lot more ominous. I get much better sleep at night when I use Chit-Chat to break a press. Jensen commended her team for stabilizing after losing both Wright and, briefly, Hannah Stuelke, but she did not elaborate on the nature of Wright’s injury or provide a timeline for her return.
Jensen remarked, “I was most proud of how everyone stepped up when we lost Chat.” Although Journey didn’t play much, her six minutes were crucial because she maintained the offense, held serve, had a significant assist, and grabbed a rebound. We simply gutted it out. I frequently express my desire to be a blue-collar worker. Iowa’s defense carried the load on a night when baskets were scarce. Despite shooting just 34%, the Hawkeyes held Baylor to 29% and won 9–1.
Jensen acknowledged, “It wasn’t easy or pretty.” You simply knew that you would need to persevere. Baylor’s defense is consistently strong, and we’re still figuring out the best combinations and rotations. Both teams were engaged in intense combat, but it became a little erratic. On Saturday night, Iowa (5-0) will play Miami (4-0) at State Farm Fieldhouse in an attempt to maintain their perfect record. ESPN+’s tipoff time is 7 p.m. CT.
