Taylor McCabe hurt her ACL and is out for the rest of the season, the Iowa women’s basketball team announced Monday afternoon. The senior guard started every game this year, and her injury officially ends her collegiate playing career, though she plans to stick around at Iowa after she graduates in May.
“This isn’t how I imagined my senior season ending, but adversity has always been part of the game,” McCabe said in a statement. “I’m committed to my recovery and to supporting my teammates in every way I can the rest of this season. I’m grateful for the love and encouragement of my coaches, teammates, and everyone who has been with me throughout this journey at the University of Iowa.”
McCabe went down in the opening minute of Iowa’s win over Ohio State on Sunday. Suffering a non-contact injury, McCabe fell to the floor while playing defense and sat, grabbing her left knee. Trainers helped her off the court, and she later returned to the bench in street clothes with ice wrapped around her knee. She received an MRI on Sunday night.
McCabe, who hails from Fremont, Nebraska, left her mark on the program as a lethal outside shooter. She ranks 11th in school history with 172 three-pointers, and her 40.7 percent career mark from long range ties Kristi Smith for best in Hawkeye women’s basketball history. Last season, she joined McKenna Warnock as the only two Iowa players since 2009 to shoot better than 40 percent beyond the arc and achieve a minimum of 20 makes for three consecutive seasons.
For her career, McCabe averaged 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. After not starting any contests her first two seasons in Iowa City, McCabe logged 39 over the last two years, including 20 games this season, when she saw a career-high 27.1 minutes per game. She also averaged career-bests in points (8.1), rebounds (3.5), and assists (2.3) per game.
“Taylor gave everything she had to this team, and her impact goes far beyond what has shown up on the court,” head coach Jan Jensen said. “We are thankful she chose to be a Hawkeye a few years ago, and she will always be a part of our Hawkeye family.”
McCabe, an academic All-Big Ten selection last season, will graduate from Iowa in May with a civil engineering degree. She plans to seek a graduate assistant position on the team next season, per the release.