I think right after Soares's injury, Fennelly said they'd at least try for a medical hardship waiver to get another season, right? Not saying she'd have any chance to get it, and the plan may have also changed since then.
2022-23 Twister Sisters Season Thread
- Thread starter acoustimac
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I've been on record as saying there's zero chance of a medical hardship happening. It doesn't matter the angle they take -- the NCAA has been very consistent on this.
From what I've seen, Soares is in a good place to get drafted in the late 1st or second round of the WNBA draft by a team that doesn't need her immediately but could use her in a couple years. She didn't get many games before getting hurt, but she did get enough to show that her skills translated well to a higher level of competition.
Yeah, I remembered someone talking about a waiver being impossible. I'm sure you know more about the NCAA's rulings on these situations than I do, but I'm inclined to say that Soares's situation is unique enough to at least make it worth trying. The combination of playing in NAIA, sitting out injured in the COVID season that didn't count against eligibility, then transferring to the NCAA to play a single year and getting injured just a few games after the threshold for a medical redshirt seems like pretty special circumstances. I don't expect them to make an exception, but it seems like if they were going to, this would be the situation to do it.
But like you said, she still should have a good shot at getting drafted. It would be perfectly reasonable for her to pursue that rather than even try for an unlikely waiver.
Other players who sat out the COVID season have appealed for an extra season and have been denied. The NCAA has also been inflexible on medical hardship exceptions -- I think they switched from 20% to 30% limit in exchange for taking a harder stance on exceptions. I see zero path forward on an appeal.
Since it's actually getting close to March seeding for the NCAA's I took another peek at Brackology. Cyclones have dropped to a #6 which I guess is in line with polling and current league position. Pretty much all of the Big 12 teams dropped some.
The #5 and #6 brackets are pretty weak sauce so we still have a good shot at a #5.
The #5 and #6 brackets are pretty weak sauce so we still have a good shot at a #5.
With the NCAA you never know. I would surely hope well in advance of the draft so she can make an informed decision.
If they are somehow going for a medical hardship this year, they can't even apply until the season is over.
I remember watching that selection show and experiencing tears of joy that Iowa State got to HOST NCAA games for the first time in school history when "Hilton Coliseum" popped up on the screen. Definitely a wonderful memory among a quarter century with a LOT of great ones regarding this program. I'm grateful I have been able to see so many milestones in person. I never thought I would find something I would enjoy so much when I transferred to ISU in 1996, nor would I have expected to meet so many great people along the way (like Rulzzz).
This is what Soares said to me last week. I hope it works out!
Bill Fennelly says Stephanie Soares wants to return for another season. So, what's next?
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said Thursday that Stephanie Soares wants to come back to Ames for another season.
www.desmoinesregister.com
Interesting looking at the brackets. Two of the four seeds are team we beat…of course one with Soares playing. Moving up is going to take some doing.
Listened to the coaches show tonight, Bill bumped the summer trip up to this summer so the new freshman get to go along. He figures it will be a good way to get a jump on team bonding. (paraphrasing a little).
I would assume they could play but don't know for sure @acoustimac , @mred , @BoxsterCy, do you know the rule on this. They will be on campus so they should be able to play it would be the same as summer workouts IMO.
I would assume they could play but don't know for sure @acoustimac , @mred , @BoxsterCy, do you know the rule on this. They will be on campus so they should be able to play it would be the same as summer workouts IMO.
The main benefit is they are allowed 10 practices prior to the trip. Good intro for the freshman. They can only do it once every four years and makes sense to spend the money to do it this summer since they would not have been able to do real practice with the new gals until mid September. Good team building exercise and some practice and games you can't do most summers.
