Iowa women’s basketball guard Taylor McCabe recently suffered a significant- looking left knee injury and left a game early, and the team is now waiting on MRI results to learn how serious it is.

What happened to Taylor McCabe?

Quick Scoop

  • Taylor McCabe is a senior guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team.
  • On January 24–25, 2026, she appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to her left knee in the opening seconds of Iowa’s game against Ohio State.
  • She was helped off the court and did not return to the game, later seen on the bench with her knee wrapped/iced and in street clothes.
  • Coaches and reporters have described the injury as “tough” and “heartbreaking,” and the staff has said they are “hoping against hope” she can return this season, but they also sounded pessimistic.
  • She is scheduled for an MRI to determine the full extent of the damage, so as of now there is no official public confirmation of the exact diagnosis or timetable.

What exactly happened in the game?

  • The injury occurred on the very first defensive possession, roughly 20–25 seconds into the game against Ohio State.
  • It was reported as a non-contact incident while she was defending an opposing guard; she began limping and had to be carried or helped off the floor.
  • The arena went quiet, and she later reappeared on the bench with her left knee wrapped in ice and wearing casual clothes, indicating she was done for the day.

Example: one recap noted that Iowa “overcame an injury to starting guard Taylor McCabe just 23 seconds into the first quarter” and went on to win 91–70 despite losing her early in the game.

How serious is it and what’s next?

  • Iowa head coach Jan Jensen has said they are “hoping against hope” about her status, but she also suggested it is “a tough one,” implying real concern about a serious knee injury.
  • Jensen has already indicated that McCabe is almost certain to miss at least the upcoming West Coast road trip to play USC and UCLA.
  • The program has not yet released a specific diagnosis (for example, whether it is an ACL tear or another type of knee injury), and they are waiting on MRI results before announcing anything definitive.

Until those results are public, anything more detailed (like exact ligament damage or return date) would be speculation.

Why is this a big deal for Iowa?

  • McCabe is one of Iowa’s best three-point shooters and a key part of the offense; reports list her as a starter averaging around 8–8.5 points per game this season with strong three-point percentages.
  • She is described as one of the most accurate outside shooters in program history, ranking high on the all-time three-pointers list.
  • Losing her means Iowa will lean more on its depth and on players like Addie Deal, who stepped up with a career-high scoring performance after McCabe went down.

Here’s a quick view of what she brings:

Aspect Details
Team Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball (senior guard)
Incident Non-contact left knee injury vs. Ohio State, early first quarter
Immediate outcome Helped off court, did not return, knee wrapped/iced on bench
Current status Awaiting MRI results, expected to miss at least upcoming road trip
Role on team Starting guard, high-level three-point shooter, around 8–8.5 PPG
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Any official “latest news” beyond the injury?

  • As of late January 2026, the only widely reported “latest news” is that she sustained the left knee injury, left the Ohio State game, and is awaiting an MRI.
  • No confirmed public update has yet detailed the exact nature of the injury or a clear timeline for return. When the school or team medical staff announces results, that will be the next big update.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.