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4 thoughts from Iowa women’s abrupt NCAA exit vs Virginia | Leistikow

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4 thoughts from Iowa women’s abrupt NCAA exit vs Virginia | Leistikow


IOWA CITY — The Iowa women’s basketball team was playing with fire down the stretch of its season.

And in the always-tense round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, the second-seeded Hawkeyes got burned.

Stagnant offense, missed free throws and continued woes from 3-point range were too much for Iowa to overcome in a disheartening, 83-75 double-overtime loss to 10th-seeded Virginia before 14,332 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23.

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Though there were 50 minutes of court action, this was still an abrupt end of the season — similar to Iowa’s loss to No. 10 seed Creighton in the round of 32 in 2022.

“We didn’t deserve to win,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said. “We took 20 more shots (84 to 63). We out-rebounded them (50 to 42). Free throws were bad. Three-point percentage, bad. Hats off to Virginia. … That’s a great, great story. Players made shots. Players made plays. We didn’t make enough of them.

“Even with all of that … one little free throw by someone.”

And … yeah, that’s why it was so frustrating.

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Iowa was favored by 13½ points and looked like it finally got things together, taking a 52-43 lead with 8:07 remaining. But Iowa scored only five points in the rest of regulation, with Chit-Chat Wright missing a wild 2-pointer on the final possession.

But probably the biggest blown opportunity came with 22 seconds left in the first overtime. With a tie score, 63-63, Iowa was awarded two free throws and the ball after a flagrant-1 foul on Virginia’s Sa’Myah Smith for connecting with Hannah Stuelke in the neck.

Iowa could choose anyone to shoot the foul shots, and Wright – an 86% free-throw shooter – knocked down 1-of-2. She was fouled again, and hit just 1-of-2. Instead of a potential four-point lead, Iowa’s lead was two … and Kymora Johnson scored to force Iowa’s first double-overtime game in six years.

“I practice free throws day in and day out,” Wright said. “I really expected myself to make those two that I missed. Just got to get in the gym and get better.”

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Iowa shot 5-of-29 from 3-point range and 8-of-16 from the foul line. Those aren’t winning numbers against almost any opponent. The Hawkeyes were 1-of-13 from 3 and 17-of-29 from the foul line in a precarious NCAA Tournament opener against Fairleigh Dickinson.

“We have to make shots. That’s basketball,” said sophomore Taylor Stremlow, who was 1-for-10 from 3. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Add it up, and Iowa was 14.3% from 3 (6-for-42) and 55.6% from the line (25-for-45) in two games here this week. Tack those numbers onto the 45-point outing in the Big Ten championship game vs. UCLA, and the Hawkeyes’ final three games were disappointing.

“There’s not many excuses you can make,” said senior Kylie Feuerbach, who was 1-for-7 from 3. “You can’t let up. I personally didn’t hit the shots that were open. We had the crowd behind us. We had the energy. We had everything in our favor. We weren’t able to maximize those opportunities.”

Three duds don’t take away from what was an overachieving season.

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But appreciating the season needs a little time.

“It’s been a great year,” Jensen said. “It’s just when it ends like this, it’s a dagger.”

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Chit-Chat Wright reflects on missed free throws, first season at Iowa

The sophomore transfer eyes next season after Iowa’s 83-75 double-overtime loss to Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.

Assertive Chit-Chat, cramping Chit-Chat

That was the missive from Jensen coming into this round-of-32 matchup, to get Wright to be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.

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Wright uncorked a 3-pointer on Iowa’s first possession and was Iowa’s leading scorer in the first half, scoring eight points on 4-of-10 shooting. Wright’s tendency has been to shrink when her shot is off, but she kept firing — which was important, especially as the Hawkeyes got only 8:48 of playing time from Heiden in the opening 20 minutes.

Wright’s 3-pointer with 5:43 left pushed Iowa to a 55-51 lead. But shortly thereafter, she was pulled with cramps — an issue she has dealt with during the late part of the season. Wright came out of the game, sucked down some applesauce and pickle juice and quickly returned after 40 seconds on the bench.

The cramping returned in both overtimes but she battled through it to play 49:20.

“It was in and out,” Wright said. “It would go away and come back.”

For the game, Wright finished with 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and five turnovers. The misfire at the end of regulation was a relapse of being a bit too indecisive. Jensen said that was on her as a coach to bring Wright along this offseason.

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“We drew it up. But there was so much hesitancy,” Jensen said. “I think that was the youth. Again, it goes to the deference. ‘Should I be looking for Ava?’ Well, no, you had it wide open.”

Tearful goodbyes to Kylie Feuerbach, Hannah Stuelke

The toughest part about the loss was seeing two program stalwarts who were part of two Final Four runs end their Hawkeye careers.

Feuerbach had four points and five assists before fouling out. Stuelke set career highs in minutes (48:34) and rebounds (19) to go with 15 points and six assists in her final game.

“Those are two of my best friends,” Stremlow said. “It’s hard knowing we won’t get another opportunity to play with them. It’s just hard. They’ve meant so much to our program.”

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Both players were instrumental to this 27-7 season. By the end, Jensen really had only six players she could trust in crunch-time situations. These seniors provided stability.

Stuelke battled through multiple injuries and played wherever Jensen needed her.

Feuerbach was the ultimate defensive stopper, earning all-defense honors in the Big Ten.

“Surreal,” Feuerbach said of her five years at Iowa. “It would be impossible to list off everything right now. This moment really is hard, but then you can look back at all the highs that you’ve had, and they surpass everything else.”

Stuelke was a starter on the 2024 team that reached the national-title game. She outscored Caitlin Clark that year in the national semifinals as Iowa beat UConn. She once scored 47 points in a game.

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She was a massive part of Jensen’s first two seasons at the helm as she looks to build it back up to where it was when Clark moved on to the WNBA in 2024.

“It’ll be trending upwards,” Stuelke said. “The young girls on this team are really great. If they keep growing, they’re going to be spectacular. I’m excited to keep watching them and cheering them on. Hopefully they’ll text me if they need any advice.”

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Hear from Ava Heiden after Iowa women’s basketball season ends vs. Virginia

Hear from Ava Heiden after Iowa women’s basketball season ends vs. Virginia

Ava Heiden scores 55 points in two NCAA games, but has regrets

Heiden had a clean look to win the game at the end of the first overtime off a putback, but didn’t take it. Stremlow’s in-and-out 3, with the score 65-65, bounded into Heiden’s hands, about 6 feet away from the hoop. Instead of going back up for a shot, she looked to kick it out. She said in postgame interviews that she thought she had more time. Once she realized the clock was about to expire, she put up a wild shot that wasn’t close.

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“That’s on me,” Heiden said. “I could’ve probably been more aware of the clock. That’s something I’ll grow into. I haven’t quite been in those late-game situations where I’m the one getting the (last shot).”

That set up the second fateful overtime.

Heiden was once again Iowa’s best player even though she missed 11:12 of the first half with two early fouls. This was the epitome of a learning experience for a sophomore who had a great season, but whose best play is undoubtedly yet to come.

“That first five minutes, we were kind of rolling,” Jensen said. “She did some of the things she did earlier (in the season), fouling 94 feet away. That (second) one was such a bizarre one how she got it, still learning about her body control.”

Heiden confessed after scoring 29 of Iowa’s 58 points in its first-round win that she wasn’t fully comfortable being the go-to player in key moments. That should come.

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Heiden finished with a team-high 26 points in 36:20.

“It’s just hard,” Heiden said. “There are some things that all of us could’ve done better at. Definitely things I wanted to do better. We’ll grow from it and apply it to next year.”

Heiden finished her year with 614 points, third in Iowa program history among sophomores behind the uncatchable Caitlin Clark (863) and Megan Gustafson (628). Pretty elite company. And a centerpiece to build around for the next two years.

Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 31 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports Network. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Year in Iowa. Join Chad’s text-message group at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts. Follow @ChadLeistikow on X.



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Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa

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Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa


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When the Iowa Cubs return to Principal Park in Des Moines on June 2, the Triple-A team will likely be bringing back a familiar face.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsel told reporters in St. Louis, Mo., on May 29 that super utilityman Matt Shaw would likely join Iowa when the team opens a six-game series against Toledo that Tuesday.

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“Matts doing super well,” Counsell said during a pregame meeting with scribes. “The plan kind of remains intact that we think he’s going to be able to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday in Iowa. So, assuming everything progresses like it progresses, he’s going to have basically a full weekend of kind of normal pregame stuff. He should be good to go on Tuesday in Iowa.”

Shaw was placed on the injured list back on May 22 with mild back tightness, retroactive to May 20. He was replaced on the big-league roster by prized Cubs prospect Pedro Ramrirez, who tore apart opposing pitching during his first stint in Triple-A in 2026.

Shaw, 24, was hitting .242 (23-for-95) with six doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases and a .291 on base percentage to go along with a .400 slugging percentage in 42 games with Chicago this season. He’s bounced around the field this season and provided an important option off the bench for the Cubs.

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Shaw remains one of the organization’s top young players. The Cubs selected in the first round of the 2023 draft. Shaw rapidly rose through the minor leagues and made his big-league debut with Chicago in 2025. After some early-season struggles, Shaw was briefly demoted to Iowa in 2024 before eventually making a return to the big leagues.

While the hitting wasn’t great, the defense was exceptional. Shaw found a home at third base and played so well he became a Gold Glove finalist in 2025.

Iowa starts the series on Tuesday at 6:38 p.m.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine

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Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine


Following a years-long legal saga, the Iowa Supreme Court recently upheld a decision to evict Short’s Burger and Shine from its South Clinton Street building.

The May 22 decision, delivered by Chief Justice Susan Christensen, agreed with the Johnson County District Court’s decision to evict the downtown burger restaurant after finding that it did not notify the building’s owner — a trust operated by Midwest One Bank — of its intent to extend the lease.

The decision concludes one part of the Short’s legal saga. The now-closed restaurant is also in litigation for a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit Short’s owner, Kevin Perez filed in 2024 against Midwest One Bank, the trust of late building owner Haywood Belle, Belle’s widow, a bank employee, and the City of Iowa City

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Iowa City’s Short’s Burgers and Shine closed in 2024

Short’s closed in early 2024 after the court determined Perez hadn’t renewed the business’s lease on time.

Short’s opened at 18 S. Clinton Street in 2008 with the goal of honoring the legacy and story of former building owner H.D. Short, who shined shoes for 50 years, beginning in 1920. The original ownership group included Perez, Dan Ouverson, and former Hawkeye and NFL player Nate Kaeding, who now runs the Gold Cap Hospitality ownership group.

Eviction proceedings started when Short’s temporarily closed in April 2022 “to fix poor building conditions” without notifying Midwest One Bank, the executor of Belle’s trust.

The closure breached a part of the lease agreement that said the restaurant would default on its lease if it “failed to engage” in normal business for more than 15 consecutive business days, the court found. The renovations also violated a provision that forbade structural changes or improvements without prior written approval.

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Midwest One Bank sent notice on May 10, 2022, that Short’s would default on its lease if it did not reopen for regular business and cease renovations within 10 days, according to court documents. Shorts responded, claiming it could not reopen for business until renovations were complete because the gas could not be turned back on until repairs were finished.

Midwest One Bank “terminated” the lease and started eviction proceedings in May 2022. Shorts was allowed to continue operating and occupying the building while the case was litigated.

Midwest One Bank filed two eviction claims and delivered notice that Short’s needed to vacate the building by the end of the lease on April 30. Short’s did not vacate, and Midwest One Bank pursued a third eviction claim, accusing the owners of failing to provide notice of renewal.

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Short’s argued that because they continued renovations, disputed eviction, and secured insurance, it was evidence of their intent to renew.

The restaurant owners also argued that pending eviction proceedings prevented them from renewal. The court argued that Short’s simply did not declare intent to renew for “whatever reason.”

“Mere forgetfulness does not entitle a party to equitable relief,” the decision reads.

Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government and public safety for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.   

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Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints

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Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints


WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – An Iowa nursing home worker fired after being accused of repeatedly neglecting residents’ needs is entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

State records indicate certified nurse aide Abigail Kromah worked for Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Des Moines from May 2024 through December 2025, when she was fired. She subsequently applied for unemployment benefits, which led to a recent hearing before an administrative law judge.

The hearing records indicate Kromah testified that when she was fired on Dec. 19, 2025, the employer informed her that the discharge was due to “numerous resident complaints” regarding the care she had been providing.

According to the judge’s findings in the case, Kromah had received multiple disciplinary warnings related to resident care. In August 2024, she allegedly received verbal and written warnings for failing to answer residents’ call-lights in a timely manner, failing to properly assist residents with their personal care, and for complaining about the residents in common areas of the workplace.

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Her employer testified Kromah was also given warnings for refusing work instructions from the nursing staff, and for telling a resident who needed to be toileted to go the bathroom in their briefs.

In August 2025, it was alleged that Kromah failed to check on a resident throughout the entire night. During that shift, a nurse had neglected to unclamp a feeding tube, which caused the tube to leak. When another nurse checked on the resident at 5 a.m., the resident was “drenched in feeding solution from head to toe,” according to the judge’s findings.

‘I can’t live this way… She’s horrible.’

Days later, the home alleged, a resident of the facility entered the hallway in his wheelchair at about 6 a.m., loudly complaining, “I can’t do this anymore,” and, “I can’t live this way.” The man allegedly refused to go back to his room, explaining that Kromah was there and “she’s horrible.”

The man reportedly stated had had switched on his call-light to have his urinal emptied, but Kromah never came to assist him, which meant the urinal overflowed and spilled on him. When Kromah eventually came to the room, the man allegedly said, she changed him into dry clothing but did not clean him.

The home alleged Kromah was given additional warnings in October 2025 for reportedly failing to answer residents’ call lights and failing to complete her rounds every two hours. One resident of the home had allegedly became so frustrated by the lack of response to his call-light that he contacted the police on one occasion, according to the judge’s findings.

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State inspection reports indicate Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center was cited for insufficient staff in January 2026, with one resident complaining the issue with call-lights had been a longstanding problem. According to the inspectors, the man said that on one occasion, he couldn’t get help to clear his airway and was afraid he was going to die unless he managed to clear it himself, which he did.

In ruling that Kromah was entitled to jobless benefits, Administrative Law Judge Michael Lunn noted that while she had clearly been warned about deficiencies in resident care, she appeared to have been fired for a separate issue — attendance — for which she had received no such warnings.

A discharge for misconduct cannot be based on past acts such as the resident-care issues, Lunn ruled, but must instead be based on a current act. With no current act of disqualifying misconduct, Lunn stated, Kromah was entitled to collect unemployment benefits.

Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to locate Kromah to seek comment for this article.

Copyright 2026 IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH. All rights reserved.

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