If you’re searching for the next face of Iowa women’s basketball, look no further than Sydney Affolter, the tenacious guard who just scored a virtual fist-bump from Hawkeye royalty herself, Caitlin Clark. Yep, Iowa’s one-and-only shooting phenom didn’t just wish Affolter a happy season – she all but handed her the keys to the kingdom with an Instagram rallying cry: “LETS GO KID!!!! YOUR YEAR ❤️.”
And if Clark’s anything to go by, Affolter should probably go ahead and update her bio to “Hawkeye Headliner” ASAP.
This came after Affolter dropped a few photos on IG, decked out in her Hawkeyes uniform, her caption teasing, “soon☺️.” (Classic soft-sell – no need to flex harder than absolutely necessary.) As she suits up to lead Iowa’s reloaded roster, Affolter has to feel the weight of the Hawks’ recent heartbreak: that wrenching 87-75 loss to LSU in last season’s championship game. She and the Hawkeyes are itching to prove they’ve got what it takes to rewrite that ending.
Joining Clark in the chorus was former teammate Kate Martin, who threw in a hearty “Can’t wait to watch you kill it” as if the expectations weren’t high enough already.
Affolter’s “soon☺️” post has fans buzzing, but the real excitement is around her resurgence from a rough offseason knee injury. Coach Jan Jensen backed her star guard through the recovery, calling Affolter a key to Iowa’s potential breakout this year. In her words: “She has the support of her teammates and coaches, and we look forward to having a healthy Sydney back.”
Translation? Sydney’s going to have to carry this season on her back, but no pressure, right?
Affolter, who averaged 12.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in her nine games last season, has been honing her shot (41.4% from beyond the arc!) and has developed a defensive tenacity that Iowa fans know and love. Now, tasked with leading a fresh-faced team, Affolter is ready to channel her inner Clark – and then some – as she heads into November.
For those worried about whether she’s up to the challenge, her response to Clark’s encouragement sums it up: “Challenge accepted.”