Kylie Feuerbach: ‘I would be dumb to not use my last year’ at Iowa

NORMAN, Okla. — You only live once. And Kylie Feuerbach didn’t want to live with regret.

“There’s a lot left for me,” Feuerbach said Friday as Iowa prepared for its NCAA women’s basketball first-round game with Murray State.

“I would be dumb to not use my last year.”

Her sixth year.

Feuerbach announced Tuesday that she would return for the 2025-26 season.

“I wanted to play this year out (before announcing),” she said at Lloyd Noble Center. “I didn’t feel like I was finished.

“There are still some things I have to prove.”

Feuerbach’s college experience began at Iowa State, where she averaged 5.5 points per game, in the 2020-21 season. That season became a non-counter in eligibility because of COVID-19.

She transferred from Ames to Iowa after one year.

“That first day (at Iowa), everybody was helping me move in,” Feuerbach said. “They didn’t have to do that.”

Counting a missed 2022-23 due to a torn ACL, Feuerbach has been with the Hawkeyes four years. Next season will be her fifth.

This year, she has been the only Iowa player to start all 32 games. She is averaging 6.4 points per game, a career-best.

Her most important contributions have been in defense and leadership.

“(Feuerbach’s return) means everything,” Hannah Stuelke said. “She’s strong, she’s quick, she’s an amazing defender. It’s important to have a leader on defense.”

Feuerbach will turn 24 in May. She earned her masters in strategic communications this year and plans to pursue an MBA next season.

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Mississippi Valley Conference convention

Ten hours away from east-central Iowa, four players with Mississippi Valley Conference roots will convene Saturday.

Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke (Cedar Rapids Washington) and Murray State’s Halli Poock (Waterloo West) are projected starters for the 11 a.m. first-rounder, then Sahara Williams (Waterloo West) and Aubrey Joens (Iowa City High) will represent Oklahoma in their battle against Florida Gulf Coast at 1:30 p.m.

“It takes me back to the high school days,” Joens said. “It’s really special to play against each other.

“It’s special to be in the tournament. We don’t want it to take it for granted.”

Joens’ younger sister, Kelsey, is a starter for Iowa State. The Cyclones were eliminated by Michigan in the first round Friday at South Bend, Ind.

Aubrey was asked if her family would hustle from northern Indiana to Norman in time for Saturday’s tip.

“It’s too far down here,” she said. “I don’t think it will be able to work.”

Poock and Williams were part of four state-tournament teams under Coach Tony Pappas, reaching the Class 5A final in 2022.

“It shows the development he brings, the basketball guru that he is,” Williams said. “Everybody he comes in contact with, he makes a mark.”

Positionless Eagles

No centers. No forwards. No guards.

According to the Florida Gulf Coast roster, each of the 15 Eagles play the same position:

Shooter.

Alas, FGCU likes the 3-pointer, hoisting 847 of them this season on its way to a 30-3 record.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com