Iowa women’s basketball will be without one of its stars until early November.
Iowa head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen announced on Tuesday that senior guard Sydney Affolter will be sidelined until early November after undergoing a successful surgical scope of her knee at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center.
“This is an unfortunate setback for Sydney, but she will work hard during her rehab and is expected to make a full recovery. She has the support of her teammates and coaches, and we look forward to having a healthy Sydney back when she is given clearance from our medical staff,” Jensen said in a statement.
Affolter is expected to be one of the key cogs on an Iowa team that is replacing Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall.
The 5-foot-11 guard stepped into the starting lineup down the stretch after guard Molly Davis was lost for the season. Affolter elevated her game for Iowa to help the Hawkeyes reach a second straight Final Four and national championship game.
The Chicago native averaged 8.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season in 24.9 minutes per game. Affolter shot 55.2% from the field, 41.4% from 3-point distance and 83.0% from the free throw line.
The Marist High School product had 15 double-figure scoring games last season, including in seven of the final nine games of the season.
BREAKING:
Per Iowa Athletics, Iowa forward Sydney Affolter recently underwent a surgical scope of her knee and is expected to be ready to return in early November. pic.twitter.com/9JbAy7tDww
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) October 1, 2024
Ultimately, a successful knee surgery before the season is a good thing for the Hawkeyes. Affolter should return for or near Iowa’s season opener on Wednesday, Nov. 6 versus Northern Illinois.
The Hawkeyes will then square off against Virginia Tech on Sunday, Nov. 10 in the Ally Tipoff in Charlotte, N.C. Iowa also has an exhibition date on Wednesday, Oct. 30 against Missouri Western.
Iowa saw two players named to the preseason All-Big Ten team. Graduate guard Lucy Olsen and junior forward Hannah Stuelke earned those preseason honors.
Olsen, a transfer from Villanova, was the nation’s third-leading scorer last season. The 5-foot-10 senior guard averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 43.8% from the floor, 29.4% from beyond the arc and 80.7% from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, Stuelke averaged 14.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 62.7% from the field and 62.9% from the free throw line.
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