Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team remained perfect after Sunday’s home win over Fairfield, but the bigger storyline inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena had less to do with the final score and more with who wasn’t on the floor. As the Hawkeyes get ready for their Big Ten opener at Rutgers on Saturday, head coach Jan Jensen provided a thorough update on the condition of three injured players after the team defeated the Fairfield Stags women’s basketball team 86–72.
The win pushed Iowa to 8–0 overall and kept the early-season momentum rolling, however sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright, sophomore wing Emely Rodriguez and sophomore guard Teagan Mallegni all remained out of the lineup. Each absence comes with its own timeline, and Jensen made it obvious the team is preaching patience, especially with conference play looming.
Wright’s position is the most closely followed. She hasn’t played since suffering a heavy fall early in the second half against the Baylor Bears women’s basketball team on Nov. 20 during the WBCA Showcase. Iowa subsequently verified she had an upper-body injury, and Jensen previously indicated the medical staff has been keeping tabs on her head, shoulders and back.
Jensen characterized Wright as “day-to-day” on Sunday, highlighting the brief period since the accident and the significance of exercising caution. “We had the accident eight or nine days ago,” Jensen stated. Thus, it seems to go on forever, and she feels the same way. But we simply want to be so, so cautious.” Although there is still no set date for Wright’s return, the coaching staff keeps testing her every day and progressively increases activity as she advances.
Rodriguez and Mallegni are on distinct recovery routes, but both were also classified as “out” on the game-day availability report against Fairfield. Rodriguez last saw action on Nov. 22, Iowa’s second game of the WBCA Showcase against the Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball team, and radio analyst Rob Brooks has claimed she’s dealing with a back ailment. Jensen said Sunday that the squad is still waiting on additional medical reports before choosing next actions for the dynamic wing.
Mallegni’s absence originates from a much different concern. The sophomore guard endured a tonsillectomy on Monday, Nov. 24, and has been working her way back to full fitness. After Sunday’s game, Jensen seemed upbeat about her development. Jensen remarked, “Teagan is looking pretty good,” adding that Mallegni has begun to feel more energized. There’s hope she can get some light practice work soon, though full contact is not yet in the cards. For now, the aim is to ease both Rodriguez and Mallegni back with reduced workloads, mostly through shooting and controlled drills rather than full-speed action. “I don’t think Emely or Teagan are prepared for full combat yet,” Jensen remarked. “But with some shooting, we can work in a little bit.”
During Sunday’s game, all three players were on the field in uniform, but none of them played as Iowa overcame some early defensive mistakes before winning late. The Hawkeyes maintained their undefeated record going into one of the program’s most anticipated periods of the season by relying on consistent play and balanced scoring to hold off Fairfield. The injuries come at a bad time because Big Ten play is scheduled to begin on Saturday night in Piscataway. Iowa will play the 7-2 Rutgers Scarlet Knights women’s basketball team, who are looking to make an impression on their home court. The game will be broadcast nationally on FS1, with a tipoff time of 5 p.m. CT.
Jensen expressed confidence in her roster’s ability to get through the early portion of the conference season despite the uncertainty surrounding the three. Iowa has already demonstrated its ability to modify rotations, rely on depth, and endure periods without important players—elements that frequently determine success throughout a protracted winter. Wright continues to prioritize long-term safety and well-being. For Rodriguez and Mallegni, it’s about getting their rhythm and conditioning back after a period of inactivity. In the meantime, the Hawkeyes continue to win with the pieces available to them now, knowing that reinforcements will arrive when the time is right.
As Iowa heads east for its league opening, the conversation will undoubtedly gravitate back to who’s ready and who still needs time. For Sunday, though, the headline was simple: another win, another step forward for an unbeaten club that understands the grind of the Big Ten is only just beginning. With uncertainties persisting, Iowa moves ahead steady and composed, believing that patience now could pay off later.
