Though the Iowa women’s basketball team lost many stars last season, it has the potential to increase it’s offensive firepower in 2024-25 with first-year Teagan Mallegni, one of several newcomers to the program.
Standing at 6-foot-1, Mallegni showcased her talent with an impressive performance in the exhibition contest against Missouri Western on Oct. 30. She posted 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 5-of-11 shooting, leading the Hawkeyes to a 110-55 victory.
Mallegni’s total tied for the team lead with third-year forward Hannah Stuelke and garnered plenty of excitement from the Hawkeye faithful. Head coach Jan Jensen credited Mallegni’s confidence for her success.
“She is a really good shooter, as you can tell,” Jensen said. “Usually, you’re a good shooter. You just don’t think about it. When she gets on a roll, she can be pretty fun. I’ve seen her over the high school years and in AAU — everybody was recruiting her because she has the ability with that really quick trigger.”
The first-year also credits her Iowa teammates for enabling that strong confidence on the court.
“I really think my teammates have just given me so much confidence,” Mallegni said. “They’re just so happy for me. They’re amazing. They’re always talking to me and giving me pieces of advice. I love them all so much.”
Jensen also explained that Mallegni, while still learning the landscape of college basketball, is a true competitor.
“That whole class is really filled with competitors, but certainly Teagan has been shining this summer,” Jensen said. “I think you caught a glimpse of what we hopefully can look forward to from her.”
Hailing from McFarland, Wisconsin, Mallegni starred at McFarland High School holding numerous school records, including all-time points, most points in a season, most points in a game with 62, second-most rebounds in a game with 19, and tied the record for most three-pointers in a game with nine.
Mallegni also received numerous accolades and nominations throughout her high-school career. The Wisconsin native won first-team All-State and Rock Valley Player of the Year honors twice.
Fourth-year guard Sydney Affolter is expected to be one of Iowa’s key pieces in the 2024-25 season, but she has battled a knee injury during the offseason. Affolter praised Mallegni for her strong play throughout the summer.
“Teagan’s been playing exceptionally well,” Affolter said. “I’m super proud of her, and I’ve been seeing that since the summer. Her talent is through the roof, and she’s been playing a lot of the four position, so I think that perfectly fits her. I think she’ll get more comfortable and confident within our offense, and we’ll just keep seeing her out there, shooting some threes.”
Similar to Jensen and other Hawkeye teammates, there was one word that Affolter used to describe the young sharpshooter: confident.
“I think she brings a lot of confidence to the table,” Affolter said. “She knows what her skill set is, and she’s been very big on that. I see her in the gym all the time and she’s getting up shots left and right, so I think doing that, knowing what she does well and also listening to the upperclassmen on what she can do well to be successful.”