Sydney Affolter college career: How good is Iowa Hawkeyes guard? Stats, records, and more

Sydney Affolter, one of the best guards of the Iowa Hawkeyes ladies basketball team, has had a major role to play in the team's success. Affolter, who is from Marist High School, was accepted to the Hawkeyes in the 2021-22 season, where she quickly patented a niche.

In her freshman year, Affolter played in 19 games, debuting against New Hampshire and scoring a career-high eight points against Southern University. In her first NCAA Tournament appearance, she scored five points and grabbed one rebound against Illinois State.

Affolter's sophomore season saw her achieving career-highs with 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Notably, she scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a standout performance against No. 7 Maryland. Her defensive skills were highlighted with a career-high three steals against Minnesota.

The 2023-24 season was the stepping of a remarkable step-up for Affolter as she gained a predominant role for the Hawkeyes after an injury to guard Molly Davis. Her 2024 Big Ten title scoring in a contest includes 11 points and 11 rebounds, getting all-tournament honors.

In the 2024 NCAA Regional Final, she collected 16 points and 5 rebounds, contributing to Iowa's Final Four performance as well as her distinguishing position in the All-Regional Team.

During the 2023-24 season, Affolter obtained her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Rutgers and reached a career-high of 14 rebounds against No. 8 Virginia Tech.

Her offensive prowess was evident with a season-high 18 points against Penn State and three 10+ point performances at the Big Ten Tournament. She also showcased her versatility by registering eight rebounds and a career-best eight assists against Michigan.

Sydney Affolter's basketball roots run deep, with her father, Ed Affolter, having played college basketball at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and her brother, Trey, playing for St. Ambrose.

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Sydney Affolter’s impact: Iowa’s secret weapon in their final four run

It was a momentous challenge for the Iowa Hawkeyes to lose a starting player in the final game of the regular season. However, Sydney Affolter’s rise to prominence made a difference for the squad to get to the Final Four.

Affolter, who had previously played 10 games, was inserted back to Dale against Molly Davis's injury in the regular season finale against Ohio State.

Sydney Affolter contributed 16 points and five rebounds in Iowa’s 94-87 victory over LSU, securing their spot in the Final Four. With Davis’s return uncertain, head coach Lisa Bluder commended Affolter’s seamless reintegration into the lineup during the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

“She just handled it beautifully,” Bluder told NBC sports. “It was just effortless, her moving into the starting lineup.”

Bluder highlighted Affolter’s contributions on both ends of the court, emphasizing her knack for doing the little things that lead to victories.

“She’s that kind of do-it-all player. She’s a very blue-collar player,” Bluder said. “Sydney brings toughness, versatility, and the willingness to dive for loose balls, rebound, and be physical on defense.”

In the NCAA tournament, Sydney Affolter averaged 13.3 points and six rebounds per game, shooting 64.3% from the field and 82.4% from the free-throw line.