Sydney Affolter details her offseason knee surgery and what’s next for her to return to Iowa women’s basketball
Sydney Affolter details her offseason knee surgery and what’s next for her to return to Iowa women’s basketball
IOWA CITY — Sydney Affolter’s sheepish grin slowly widened as the question rolled in, unable to keep a straight face when recalling her own defiance. Her recent knee surgery that’s become a prevalent Iowa women’s basketball preseason storyline wasn’t first accepted with open arms.
“I definitely fought the doctor for a while,” Affolter laughed.
Standing inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday afternoon, less than two weeks after her surgical clean-up was announced, Affolter beamed with positive energy when discussing her current health status. Years of built-up pain and discomfort have been relieved ahead of Affolter’s most pivotal basketball campaign, one in which she’ll be needed as the Hawkeyes’ emotional leader while shouldering a larger offensive load.
The knee surgery will likely cost Affolter some games. How many remains to be seen. Early November is the anticipated return provided no setbacks occur between now and then. Affolter reported Thursday her recovery has been smooth with minimal disruptions.
The Hawkeyes hope their transition to what’s next unfolds similarly, after two years in the national spotlight with Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder out in front. A healthy Affolter and the authoritative presence she’s cemented is Iowa’s best chance to make that happen.
“When I first came in here, it was clear Syd’s the leader,” freshman center Ava Heiden said. “That was the immediate vibe I sensed. She really pushes us to work hard and do what we need to do every single second of the day. When I came in here, I was definitely like Syd is the driving force behind this team.
“It’ll be great when she gets back.”
Pain tolerance is a task no athlete hopes to master but usually must. Affolter had gotten quite good at it while dealing with her nagging knee issue over the years. It goes all the way back to her days at Marist High School in Chicago, where Affolter underwent meniscus surgery after dealing with problems throughout her junior season in 2020.
The issues continued to linger throughout her Iowa years, though never sever enough to officially sideline Affolter for any length of time. A substantial increase in playing time last season — from roughly 10 minutes per game as a freshman and sophomore to nearly 25 as a junior — delivered memorable moments but also additional discomfort. You wouldn’t have known it by the way Affolter finished as a pivotal starter en route to another national championship game.
Her first offseason as a team centerpiece only accentuated that value, the senior now in charge of organizing scrimmages, team dinners and other outings during the summer lull. Affolter’s plan for this year would remain the same. Put the Hawkeyes first and the pain second. That’s what a strong leader does.
Everything changed this fall.
“When we got back to school this year, it was really bothering me a lot,” Affolter said. “I tried to fight it off for so long. I’ve played through it for so long that I didn’t think I would need to have a cleanup done. But I definitely think it was the best thing for me. I took some time to think about it, and I’m glad I made that decision.
“It was hard. I took a week to think about it. I did everything that I normally would — practice, lift, scrimmage and actually shooting. It was just a lot. And that’s when I was confident in knowing that I definitely should get the surgery.”
If Affolter’s absence is as short as expected, her surgery decision could set the tone for an emphatic senior campaign. The Hawkeyes are already missing Affolter’s demeanor on the practice floor as Iowa enters the Jan Jensen era with several new faces and untapped potential. Operating with Affolter at full strength all the way through is more significant than the few games she might miss on the front end.
Affolter’s updated assessment of the situation reflects the same. Toughness and tenacity have come to define her basketball career so far, making it understandable why any decision that included time on the sidelines was initially rebuffed. However, valuing the long game over the immediate showcases Affolter’s veteran maturity Iowa needs in bunches this year.
The surgical resistance has faded. So has the pain.
“We’re just glad she’s pain-free now and is going to be better than ever,” fellow guard Taylor McCabe said. “She just sets an example. Now she’s able to back up her words with that as well.”
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
