Iowa women’s basketball lands Emely Rodriguez in the transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Emely Rodriguez is well aware of how high the Iowa women’s basketball team has climbed in recent years.

“The last couple of years, they’ve been on the big stage,” Rodriguez said Monday afternoon, shortly after she signed with the Hawkeyes.

“I look forward to helping them get back there.”

A native of the Dominican Republic (she moved to the United States when she was 16) and a member of the all-Big 12 freshman team last season at Central Florida, Rodriguez has three years of eligibility remaining.

She visited the Hawkeyes and Big Ten rival Indiana in her second round of recruiting.

“I knew Iowa is the place for me,” she said.

Rodriguez is a 6-foot wing. She averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a freshman for UCF, which went 12-18 last season, 4-14 in the Big 12.

She scored a career-high 21 points against Iowa State on Feb. 25. She led the Golden Knights in free-throw accuracy, at 75 percent.

“We are thrilled to add Emely to our team because she is a skilled, versatile and strong guard that can score on every level and has a great defensive presence,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said in a release. “Her versatility will also give us increased depth.”

Versatility. That was the first word that Rodriguez used in describing her game.

“I can do anything on the court,” she said. “Anything to help the team win.

“We didn’t have great crowds at UCF, and I know that Iowa does. I’m excited to play in front of great crowds, great people.”

Rodriguez becomes the fifth player to join the Iowa roster for 2025-26. Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright also has transferred in (from Georgia Tech), while Addie Deal, Layla Hays and Journey Houston will be freshmen.

Iowa’s 2025-26 roster is up to 14 players, including seven sophomores.

2025-26 Iowa women’s basketball roster

Seniors (4) — Hannah Stuelke, Taylor McCabe, Kylie Feuerbach, Jada Gyamfi

Juniors — (None)

Sophomores (7) — Ava Heiden, Taylor Stremlow, Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright, Emely Rodriguez, Teagan Mallegni, Callie Levin, Kennise Johnson

Freshmen (3) — Addie Deal, Layla Hays, Journey Houston

Affolter named as graduate assistant

Sydney Affolter has been named a graduate student employee with the Hawkeyes for the 2025-26.

“We are thrilled to have Sydney join our staff in this capacity,” Jensen said. “Sydney has been a tremendous leader for our program, and I am excited to continue to utilize her skill set as she begins her coaching career.”

Affolter was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection from the media last season.

“I’m beyond excited to remain with a program that has given me so much,” said Affolter, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management. “It’s an honor to give back and support this team in a new role.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com