INDIANAPOLIS — A little over a month ago, I suggested that more fans should come out to support the Iowa women’s basketball team.
As the No. 3 seed in this weekend’s Big Ten Tournament with a semifinal showdown against second-seeded Michigan State on Saturday, I still stick with my original proposal. After starting off in the bottom of the Big Ten standings, the team put together an impressive run to finish third in the conference.
It still bothers me that a team with this much success can have such a low turnout as opposed to the men’s basketball team that’s far worse. However, I’m not going to bring up old news.
Instead, I want to focus on something else — complimenting those fans that attend Iowa women’s basketball games.
Freshman Jaime Printy said it best after the 82-75 win over the Lady Lions on Friday.
“I absolutely love our fans,” she said. They help us so much. When we go on a run they’re right there cheering. When the other team goes on a run, they’re [still] cheering for us. So I think they’re a lot of help.”
Friday was just another impressive example of why Hawkeye fans are some of the best in the country. After watching part of the No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 7 Michigan State game, there’s no comparison — Iowa fans rock.
For every big play, whether it was a long-range 3-point shot or a steal against Penn State, Iowa fans made their presence known. They traveled 363 miles. They started chants. They cheered exuberantly. They were everything good fans were supposed to be.
And, I couldn’t have been more impressed.
Freshman Gabby Machado told me that she appreciated seeing fan support because she was someone who thrived on the energy of others.
“Actually I like it when people are jumping up and supporting us,” Machado said. “If you notice, I’m the same way on the bench, so I love the feeling of knowing you did something good.”
While Iowa sports tend to never get the respect or recognition they deserve, fans don’t seem fazed by the snub. They know what a good team is when they see it and aren’t afraid to show their support. Athletes typically agree that having a strong attendance makes a big difference.
Conseco Fieldhouse can be an intimidating place to play, especially during the Big Ten Tournament. With four freshmen getting their first postseason experience, having friends and family present certainly made the transition easier.
“I can hear people’s parents and select fans a lot,” freshman Morgan Johnson said. “I hear them all the time, especially when I’m on the bench. It just gets you like excited because it’s like, ‘I’m on the floor. I can make a difference. I can make a difference to all these people and the team.’ It’s great.”
— by Evelyn Lau
