In a thrilling NCAA Tournament matchup, No. 10 seed Virginia pulled off a stunning upset against No. 2 seed Iowa, clinching a victory in double overtime. The Cavaliers were propelled by an outstanding 28-point performance from Kymora Johnson. Despite strong efforts from Iowa's Ava Heiden and Chazadi Wright, the Hawkeyes fell short of advancing to the Sweet 16.
Virginia's coach, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, praised her team's resilience, stating, "Iowa is a really good team. They’re a 2-seed for a reason.
No matter what they threw at us, we just did not get rattled. We just believed that we were going to win this game before it even started.
Every time they punched, we punched back, stayed poised."
For Iowa's senior guard Kylie Feuerbach, the loss was especially poignant as it marked the end of her college career. Speaking to the media, Feuerbach shared her mixed emotions, reflecting on her time with the Hawkeyes.
"It’s hard. I’ve loved every second here.
Luckily, I’ve gotten more time here than the average person with the extra year, so it’s been awesome. I’m just grateful.
Definitely not something… this can’t define my time here," she expressed. "There have been a lot of highs; I’ll remember those more than I’ll remember these, but these definitely hurt in the moment."
Feuerbach, who joined Iowa in 2021, averaged 4.4 points and 1.7 assists per game. Her impact on the team and community was evident, as fans flooded social media with heartfelt messages.
One fan wrote, "Breaks my heart to hear her hurting like this. Really gonna miss seeing her and Hannah play in an Iowa uniform."
Another added, "Love love love Kylie. I will miss seeing her.
Brilliant future ahead for her."
Feuerbach's legacy at Iowa is undeniable, and as she moves forward, the support from fans and her contributions to the team will be fondly remembered. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.