The Iowa Hawkeyes are starting to find their rhythm again-just in time-but there’s no denying the void left by senior guard Taylor McCabe. Her absence has been felt on both ends of the floor, particularly during Iowa’s recent three-game skid. McCabe wasn’t just a vocal leader; she was also one of the Hawkeyes’ most reliable perimeter defenders, and her injury forced the team to recalibrate quickly.
That recalibration didn’t come easy. Iowa dropped three straight to USC, UCLA, and Minnesota in the wake of McCabe’s season-ending injury.
While there were multiple factors at play in those losses, McCabe’s absence was a significant one. Her ability to communicate, defend, and stretch the floor with her shooting created balance for a team that thrives on spacing and tempo.
The good news? Iowa seems to be turning the corner.
The Hawkeyes have bounced back with back-to-back wins over Washington and Nebraska, and it’s not just about the scoreboard-it’s about how they’ve responded. The team looks more settled, more confident, and perhaps most importantly, more cohesive.
Before Iowa’s recent win over Nebraska, McCabe shared an update on her recovery with the Des Moines Register. What was originally expected to be a standard ACL repair turned out to be more complicated.
Surgeons discovered a torn meniscus in her left knee during the procedure, which extended the surgery and will likely mean a longer rehab timeline. Despite the setback, McCabe remains upbeat, and the support from Hawkeye fans-especially in her home state of Nebraska-has been unwavering.
With McCabe sidelined, the Hawkeyes have turned to Taylor Stremlow and Addie Deal to fill the starting spot. Stremlow, in particular, is starting to make the most of her opportunity.
Against Nebraska, she delivered a breakout performance-dropping 17 points while shooting a blistering 86 percent from the field and 75 percent from deep. That kind of efficiency speaks to her growing confidence and the trust the coaching staff is placing in her.
Next up, Iowa heads to West Lafayette for a Thursday matchup against Purdue. It’s another test for a team that’s learning to adapt on the fly. But if the last two games are any indication, the Hawkeyes are beginning to settle into their new identity-gritty, resilient, and still very much in the hunt.