Former Iowa guard Emely Rodriguez commits to Syracuse
Former Iowa guard Emely Rodriguez played in six games for the Hawkeyes in the 2025-26 season, averaging 7.2 points on 42.5% shooting. Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
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Former Iowa guard Emely Rodriguez has committed to Syracuse women’s basketball, the team announced Wednesday. Rodriguez played in six games for the Hawkeyes in the 2025-26 season, averaging 7.2 points on 42.5% shooting.
Rodriguez is Syracuse’s fourth transfer portal addition this offseason, joining former Oregon forward Sarah Rambus, SMU guard Tyi Skinner and Temple forward Jaleesa Molina. They join forces with SU’s five returning players — notably Uche Izoje and Shy Hawkins — and two incoming freshmen to make the bulk of next season’s roster.
Rodriguez, a 6-foot guard from the Dominican Republic, played high school basketball in Miami, Florida, where she amassed a four-star ranking in the class of 2024, per ESPN. Rodriguez committed to UCF and instantly became a regular in the Knights’ lineup, starting 19 of her 25 appearances as a freshman. She averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds as one of the best rookies in the Big 12.
After a successful one-year stint at UCF, Rodriguez entered the portal and landed at Iowa, a perennial top seed in the NCAA Tournament. She didn’t carve out much of a role with the Hawkeyes, appearing in just six games off the bench. She scored 13 points against Southern on Nov. 3, 2025 and 11 points against Drake on Nov. 13, 2025, but those were her only significant performances.
Rodriguez entered the portal again on April 6. She landed at Syracuse, where she’ll have the opportunity to break out in a relatively thin guard room.
