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USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa women's basketball contending for UCF transfer portal wing
Iowa women's basketball contending for UCF transfer portal wing Iowa women's basketball is one of a trio of schools that have emerged as reported contenders for UCF transfer guard and forward Emely Rodriguez. Prep Girls Hoops lead scout and women's basketball insider EJ Arocho reported that Iowa joins Indiana and Oklahoma as one of three schools that have emerged as serious contenders to potentially land the UCF transfer. Rodriguez just completed her freshman season at UCF where she averaged 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40.9% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 75.3% from the free-throw line. Despite missing five games with injury, Rodriguez notched 16 double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 21 against Iowa State on Feb. 25. The 6-foot wing registered a double-double against Montana State and collected five or more rebounds in 17 contests. Rodriguez was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. Originally from La Romana in the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez came to the United States in 2021 to chase her basketball dream. Rodriguez was recognized as the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Girls' Basketball Player of the Year for Classes 4A-2A in March of 2023 when she averaged 26.5 points per game and led Horeb Christian with 15.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. Then, Rodriguez joined Central Pointe Academy for her senior season and helped lead her team to bring home the SIAA State Championship and the NISAA Championship. Rodriguez received offers from UConn, South Carolina and Florida State before signing with UCF. Iowa has already signed one player via the transfer portal, former Georgia Tech point guard Chazadi "Chit Chat" Wright. A 5-foot-4 guard from Atlanta, Georgia, Wright appeared in all 33 games and started 12 with the Yellow Jackets, averaging 7.2 points, 2.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 37.1% from the field, 32.3% from 3-point range and 88.6% from the free-throw line. Wright was a four-star signee in the 2024 class for Georgia Tech. According to ESPN, Wright was the nation's No. 49 player overall and its No. 12 point guard. The Hawkeyes signed guards Addie Deal and Journey Houston in their 2025 class and return Taylor McCabe, Kylie Feuerbach, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow in their backcourt. Here's a look at some of Rodriguez's highlights versus Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament: Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa women's basketball reported contender for Georgia Tech transfer
Iowa women's basketball reported contender for Georgia Tech transfer Iowa women's basketball has largely been quiet on the transfer portal front since season's end. That could be changing in short order. According to EJ Arocho of Prep Girls Hoops, Iowa is a leading contender to land Georgia Tech transfer guard Chazadi "Chit Chat" Wright. A 5-foot-4 guard from Atlanta, Georgia, Wright just completed her freshman season at Georgia Tech. Wright appeared in all 33 games and started 12 with the Yellow Jackets, averaging 7.2 points, 2.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 37.1% from the field, 32.3% from 3-point range and 88.6% from the free-throw line. Wright was a four-star signee in the 2024 class for Georgia Tech. According to ESPN, Wright was the nation's No. 49 player overall and its No. 12 point guard. Iowa is replacing starting point guard Lucy Olsen, who led the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game. The Hawkeyes also saw the transfer portal departure of 2024 signee Aaliyah Guyton, who appeared in 29 games and averaged 4.7 points per game. The Hawkeyes signed guards Addie Deal and Journey Houston in their 2025 class and return Taylor McCabe, Kylie Feuerbach, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow in their backcourt. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
USA Today
13-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa women's basketball hosting transfer portal visitor from UCLA
Iowa women's basketball hosting transfer portal visitor from UCLA Iowa women's basketball is hosting former UCLA guard Elina Aarnisalo for a weekend visit. Edwin Arocho of Prep Girls Hoops reported that Aarnisalo had made her way to Iowa City to take in what head coach Jan Jensen and the Hawkeyes have to offer her and how she could fit into Iowa's future plans. A 5-foot-10 guard, Aarnisalo just completed her freshman season with the Bruins where she played in 37 games and started 10. Aarnisalo averaged 5.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.7% from the field and 27.0% from 3-point range. During her 10 starts, Aarnisalo's averages were up to 8.6 points, 5.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Aarnisalo's shooting efficiency also ticked upwards during her starts. The Finland guard shot 54.7% from the field and 42.8% from 3-point range in games she started during her frosh campaign. As Iowa looks to restock a backcourt that sees Lucy Olsen and Sydney Affolter depart, Aarnisalo could step right in as a starting point guard for the Hawkeyes. That would allow five-star and incoming McDonald's All-American Addie Deal to slide to the off-ball position for Iowa and morph into more of a scorer. Plus, the Hawkeyes also inked four-star guard Journey Houston and Iowa returns a nucleus of guards that features Taylor McCabe, Kylie Feuerbach, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow. Here's a look at some of Aarnisalo's highlights: Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
