Iowa women’s basketball team has momentum going into Sunday’s Big Ten home opener, but there is also uncertainty surrounding its rotation. In their last game of 2025, the No. 14 Hawkeyes, who are currently 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play, will host Penn State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Although the opponent and the environment are familiar, the build-up hasn’t been totally seamless. Iowa’s game-day availability report included a number of absences as well as a crucial question mark that could influence the outcome of the afternoon.
Most notably, against the Nittany Lions, starting guard Kylie Feuerbach, a recent graduate, is listed as questionable. Although she is not ruled out by that designation, it does put Iowa’s backcourt situation in jeopardy as Big Ten play gets underway.
Feuerbach’s presence is important even though her role doesn’t always stand out on the stat sheet. She has averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game through the first half of the season. She is shooting an amazing 86.4% from the free-throw line, 29.4% from beyond the arc, and 34.0% from the field. Feuerbach offers more than just numbers, though; in conference games, especially when rotations are already limited, his steadiness, experience, and defensive toughness tend to stand out more.
Iowa will have to rely more on its depth and flexibility if Feuerbach is unable to leave. The fact that a number of other players are still unavailable adds to the difficulty. Emely Rodriguez, a sophomore, is listed as out once more. Since Iowa’s victory over Miami on November 22, Rodriguez has not played. Her absence was first explained by a back injury she sustained at the WBCA Showcase. The circumstances have changed since then. Rodriguez’s status is uncertain as the season progresses because she is allegedly serving an indefinite suspension for breaking team rules. Her prolonged absence reduces backcourt flexibility and eliminates another ball-handling option.
Junior guard Kennise Johnson, who is still listed as out, is also unavailable. Johnson’s defensive prowess and athleticism have been overlooked, especially in games where Iowa wants to accelerate or interfere with opposing guards. Senior forward Jada Gyamfi, who is also listed as out and is anticipated to be sidelined for a considerable amount of time, is perhaps the biggest long-term concern. Iowa has already had to modify its frontcourt rotations due to Gyamfi’s absence, and as the grind of Big Ten play sets in, her continued unavailability adds yet another level of complexity.
When combined, the availability and injury reports show a winning but incomplete team. Before a game against Penn State, that background is important. At home, conference openers can be surprisingly challenging. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is exciting, vibrant, and comfortable, but there’s also pressure. When league play starts, everyone’s record kind of resets, and every game takes on more significance. It becomes more difficult to prepare when there is uncertainty about who will be available.
Iowa has persevered this season, though. The Hawkeyes have overcome difficult games, grown as a team, and learned from failures. They’ve managed to compete and, for the most part, win despite missing important pieces. That speaks to the roster’s flexibility as well as the coaching. Feuerbach’s ability to suit up, even in a limited role, would be beneficial both tactically and emotionally. In games like this, veterans are important. If she is unable to attend, it becomes another chance for someone else to take center stage, which has been Iowa’s theme for the past month.
The game on Sunday has additional symbolic meaning. It’s the Hawkeyes’ last game of 2025 and an opportunity to finish the year strong before moving on to the Big Ten schedule. The way Iowa responds to hardship now may be a sign of how it will handle the protracted winter. Answers will soon be available after the tipoff against Penn State. Even though the lineup is still uncertain, Iowa is hopeful, cautious, and still in complete control of its season as it waits.
