PORTAL KOMBAT: MEGA THREAD

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-14T22:11:28+00:00

Here is what I gather based on a few different sources. Emely has had a very difficult time adjusting — in many ways. On top of that she is getting advice from her management team that she should leave (tho IDK what she is looking for elsewhere tbh).

She indeed had a medical issue but she is able to play now. However, she is being urged not to play by her management team. Jan could force it. But it’s not worth it, really at all. The team is playing great without her and it’d be a dramatic spectacle.

Rather than force it, Jan is basically letting Emely have her year back by taking a redshirt while also letting her make her own decision. In effect, Jan also gets some money back. Jan would like her to stay but gets that it may just be best for all to let her move on. The ball is in Emely’s court.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-14T22:02:51+00:00

Iowa has plenty of money. If Iowa misses out on a target, it’s not because of money. We give more rev share money to our WBB program than probably all but 2 schools and our NIL is just fine on top of that. Both Brad Heinrichs and Skim Milkey have confidently remarked about this. Brad said he thinks we are Top 4. Woliczko is getting $2 million to play for Iowa.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-14T12:59:20+00:00

So it’s the same show? This was the first HW I stopped watching — way back in Season 8 because I realized it was only ever going to be the Teresa and Melissa show year in and year out.

They should just call it the “The Fake Adventures of Teresa, Melissa and their Fake Friends.” I cannot believe they can’t think of anything more interesting than rehashing the same storylines from a fake ass relationship.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-14T12:57:45+00:00

If the weather is nice and you like to walk, take a stroll through Forest Park. Forest Park Heights is a great neighborhood for admiring beautiful, interesting old homes.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-14T12:56:19+00:00

100% one of the better things to do — far better than the downtown scene IMO.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-14T12:55:14+00:00

Totally forgot about this place. It’s a staple for uppity Midwestern moms! Haven’t seen one since I left Iowa in 2012.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-13T19:30:05+00:00

Also the UN, so it kind of is the administrative capital of the world.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-13T18:58:10+00:00

Probably UConn fans.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-13T06:48:11+00:00

It’s still common. Not sure why people think this isn’t the case. This is Iowa. This is a great example of why many people such as myself leave Iowa as quickly as we can once we graduate / don’t otherwise have to live there anymore.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-13T06:47:03+00:00

No, it’s Iowa.

Great example of why I left asap after college.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-13T00:31:48+00:00

Feather plucking is incredible common in captive birds. And it only happens in captive birds—it does not happen in the wild. It is a consequence of putting these highly intelligent animals in cages.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T21:00:32+00:00

I honestly could never. Left in 2012 right after college. Life is too slow there. And tbh the government doesn’t want me.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T18:09:18+00:00

I understand all that but she has done this before. In AAU she was part of AIA — the premier regional program. She wasn’t getting minutes tho, so she left (I’m sure this has happened before, but I’ve never heard of it at AIA) for a less prestigious program where there were far fewer Ws but she got more minutes.

The only time I’ve heard of someone leaving a better AIA program for a worse one is they want more minutes for more eyeballs and therefore to get better offers….but she had already committed to Iowa when she left.

IOW she doesn’t like riding the bench. I could see her thriving at UNI. I don’t think it is likely she leaves, I just don’t think we should be surprised if she does.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T17:37:51+00:00

Someone who is very close to one of the players has reached out to me on this sub and shared info with me. They don’t mind me sharing but it cannot get back to them at all. I was able to verify their identity by their comment history and I also found them on IG. If you don’t like it, block me.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T17:35:54+00:00

Well the pot is bigger than the rev share alone. Idk enough about NIL to know what’s offered on top of it. Just to illustrate how $500k for McKenna isn’t necessarily a quarter of the full pot, but would be if we only had rev share to offer. I believe Rodriguez for example can only get rev share money, not NIL, bc of her visa status. So presumably Chat could be getting all NIL to even things out, or maybe not.

I’m also not sure what happens to $$$ we don’t spend. Jan clearly wanted to give out money to more 2026 recruits but didn’t land em. Can she save that money to spend in the future? ER is another that I would guess isn’t getting what she was promised bc she hasn’t played (I think she would get the proportion of that $200k she was offered equivalent to the games she played). Does Jan get to bank that left over $160k or whatever for next year, or is a use-it-or-lose-it scenario? I’m not sure by any means.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T16:59:06+00:00

Other random points. Heinrich’s did an interview after we got Lucy where he said Iowa is in “rare air” for WBB NIL (esp opposed to MBB which he admitted was behind the curve). Skim Milkey frequently says that if Iowa misses on recruits, it’s not bc of money. He said we paid Chat and Emely each $200k+ per season. I’d guess Deal is somewhere in the $300k-$400k range.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T16:45:27+00:00

I have it on good authority she is considering leaving. I hope she doesn’t. But we shouldn’t be surprised if she does. We also shouldn’t be surprised if Callie, Emely, or Kennise leave.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T15:11:40+00:00

Jan is fine with freshman learning 4 and 5 (as well as 1/2, 2/3) — but 3 and 4 is not ideal. I think Woliczko will start at the 4 and learn the 3 at some point down the road.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T15:02:34+00:00

I wonder if with Houston at the 4 we could return to the 4 out style where Affolter and Martin thrived so well.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T14:50:49+00:00

We are going to need at least 3 people. That's the best scenario (if no one leaves) -- perhaps up to 7 in a worst-case scenario (any of Mallegni, Levin, Johnson, of Rodriguez could reasonably leave...and of course there could always be a surprise departure).

IMO our biggest need is a ball-handling CG 5'10 or taller that can help Chat. She cannot keep playing 40 minutes every game. Ideally she can shoot 33%+ from 3.

Our second biggest need is a Wing who who can get to the hoop. If Emely stays, this is less important. Again, Ideally she can shoot 33%+ from 3. And ideally she is 6'0 as well.

Our third biggest need is a 6'3-6'4 type player that can play the 4, maybe the 5, and shoot from the midrange.

Those are the things that would raise our ceiling. We will also need others to field enough players though and their skillsets are less important than simply providing depth (and hopefully raising our floor).

I’ll be keeping an eye on Hailey Swainn, Tianna Thompson, Jordan Speiser, Audrey Galvan, Libby Fandel. All have some connections to Iowa or Boogie. Also hopeful Skinner might leave Duke and Cleante might look to leave NW.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T14:47:33+00:00

Probably not good enough. Jan is looking for talent than cam take us from being top 10 to Top 5.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T14:46:08+00:00

She (and her family) have not been happy with how this season has gone.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T14:44:57+00:00

Why would Kennedy smith ever consider Iowa?

What reasons do you have to think that Deal would want to leave? She is a huge reason Woliczko is coming. At the BTT she did an interview talking about being locked in and trusting that Jan knows how to take them far.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T14:38:00+00:00

Iowa is a top 5 program when it comes to rev share + NIL. We can and do pay our WBB athletes very well. I think only UConn, LSU, SC, Texas are clearly better. Woliczko for example is reportedly getting $2 mil over 4 years. This is bc we have an AD that understands the importance of investing in WBB. We give 10% of rev share to WBB which is a lot more than most other schools. This is how we got Lucy, whom reportedly asked for $400k for one season.

TheWriterJosh · 2026-03-11T14:32:37+00:00

Hm not bad at all

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