There was a heavy hush inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena almost immediately Sunday afternoon, and it lingered long after the final buzzer. The Taylor McCabe injury update came quickly after Iowa’s dominant win, but the concern surrounding one of the Hawkeyes’ most trusted veterans overshadowed everything else.
Just 23 seconds into Iowa’s matchup against No. 12 Ohio State, McCabe went down. No contact. No warning. One step, then pain. The senior guard grabbed her left knee and stayed on the floor as teammates waved urgently for help. Moments later, she was helped off the court, unable to put weight on her leg. The arena went quiet in a way that felt unsettling.
Taylor McCabe injury update: Jan Jensen confirms MRI later tonight
After Iowa cruised to a convincing 91–70 victory, head coach Jan Jensen addressed the moment everyone was still thinking about. McCabe, Jensen confirmed, will undergo an MRI later tonight to determine the extent of the injury.
“I’m sick about it,” Jensen said honestly. “I don’t know for sure yet, but I think it’s a tough one.”
McCabe briefly returned to the bench in the first half with ice wrapped around her knee, trying to stay engaged with her teammates. But the reality set in quickly. Jensen indicated McCabe is unlikely to travel with the team for its upcoming West Coast road trip to USC and UCLA two games that loom large in the Big Ten title race.
For Iowa, this wasn’t just about losing a shooter. McCabe is a leader, a steady presence, and one of the most reliable perimeter threats on the roster. She’s among the program’s top career three-point shooters and has delivered in countless pressure moments.
How Iowa Responded When It Could’ve Folded
What happened next said everything about this Hawkeye team.
Instead of unraveling, Iowa responded with composure, toughness, and maybe most importantly togetherness. Freshman Addie Deal stepped into the moment without hesitation, logging a career-high 32 minutes and finishing with 20 points and five assists. She played free, confident, and fearless.
Inside, Hannah Stuelke was relentless, bullying her way to 18 points and 15 rebounds. Ava Heiden added 18 points and eight boards, and guard Chit-Chat Wright chipped in 14 as Iowa steadily pulled away.
By halftime, the Hawkeyes had already taken control. By the fourth quarter, the outcome was never in doubt.
Iowa didn’t just win. It sent a message — this team isn’t fragile.
An Emotional Locker Room and a Leader Everyone’s Pulling For
Even with the lopsided score, emotions were mixed afterward. Teammates made it clear McCabe never left their minds.
“I’m praying for McCabe,” guard Kylie Feuerbach said. “She means so much to us.”
Jensen echoed that sentiment. Her concern wasn’t about rotations or matchups. It was about a player who’s poured years into the program.
McCabe has been shooting near 38 percent from three this season and brings a calm edge that doesn’t always show up in the box score. Losing her even temporarily would be a significant blow, especially with challenging road games ahead.
What Comes Next for Iowa
The Hawkeyes now sit at 18–2 overall and 9–0 in Big Ten play, their best conference start in decades. But the focus shifts quickly.
The MRI results will determine timelines, expectations, and perhaps the direction of Iowa’s postseason push. Until then, the Hawkeyes will lean on the depth and resolve they showed Sunday proof that this group knows how to respond when things don’t go according to plan.
For now, it’s about waiting, hoping, and supporting one of their own.
Because wins matter but teammates matter more.
