Emely Rodriguez’s status with the Iowa women’s basketball program is still unclear, despite the Hawkeyes regaining important players ahead of a big national game. During her media appearance on Tuesday morning, head coach Jan Jensen provided little clarification, reiterating that Rodriguez is still “day-to-day” as she continues to miss time away from game action. Jensen hesitated for a moment before responding when asked if the sophomore wing was still on the team.
“She is as of right now, yeah,” Jensen said.
That answer highlighted the unanswered questions about Rodriguez, who hasn’t played since Iowa’s game against Miami (Fla.) on November 22. As Iowa manages a challenging early-season schedule, the transfer from Central Florida has now missed five straight games. After a successful freshman season at UCF, where she averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, Rodriguez transferred to the Hawkeyes as a sophomore. The Dominican Republic native, who stands six feet tall, added versatility and scoring power to Iowa’s wing rotation. Early in her Hawkeye career, she displayed glimmers of this potential.
Before being sidelined, Rodriguez averaged 7.2 points per game through six games this season. Since her most recent appearance in late November, the show has only repeatedly used the term “day-to-day” to describe her circumstances. Rodriguez’s situation is still unclear, but Iowa has welcomed the return of other players who were briefly absent from the lineup.
Another sophomore transfer, Chit-Chat Wright, just made her comeback after missing three games due to an upper-body injury she suffered during Iowa’s game against Baylor on November 20. Wright has participated in the Hawkeyes’ last three games and scored a career-high 21 points in the team’s defeat to Iowa State. The injury’s physical limitations made it especially difficult, according to the Atlanta native.
“It was a little of everything,” Wright said. “A lot of whiplash. It was hard to turn and get full range of motion, which I need.”
As the team gets ready for more difficult competition, her return has given Iowa a much-needed offensive spark and ball-handling presence. Teagan Mallegni, a sophomore, returned to the court on Saturday as well, scoring five points in Iowa’s convincing 102–68 victory over Lindenwood. As the Hawkeyes continue to refine their lineup, Mallegni’s presence gives Jensen more freedom and depth in the rotation.
These results are crucial for Iowa, which has a 10-1 record and is ranked 11th in the country going into the week. The Hawkeyes will travel to Brooklyn, New York, to play top-ranked Connecticut at the Barclays Center at noon (CT), which will be their biggest test of the season thus far. The game serves as a yardstick for an Iowa team that is still figuring things out due to roster uncertainty because UConn comes into the matchup undefeated at 10-0 and atop the national rankings.
Rodriguez’s predicament is still a plot point that looms over the show even with Wright and Mallegni back in uniform. Although the Hawkeyes are moving forward without a clear timeline for her return, her skill and experience may prove useful as the season goes on. Jensen and her staff continue to strike a balance between optimism and realism as Iowa gets ready for its nationally televised matchup with the Huskies. Although the team is in better shape than it was a few weeks ago, there are still concerns, especially about Rodriguez’s potential future participation.
As the Hawkeyes move deeper into a season full of high expectations and national attention, Iowa’s message is still the same: Rodriguez is still day-to-day, still technically a part of the program, and still an unanswered question.
