In a cruel twist of fate, Iowa guard Taylor McCabe suffered a season-ending ACL tear just hours after her sister, Peyton McCabe of Drake, was injured in a separate game, creating an unprecedented and somber day for the two rising collegiate basketball stars.
The McCabe sisters, who have faced adversity before, endured a truly heartbreaking day on Sunday. In a cruel and unprecedented turn of events, Taylor McCabe of eighth-ranked Iowa suffered a season-ending left knee injury during a game against Ohio State in Iowa City. Less than two hours later, her sister, Peyton McCabe of Drake, was injured in her team’s game against Murray State in Des Moines.
Iowa officially announced on Monday that Taylor had torn her ACL and would require surgery. The news comes as a devastating blow to the Hawkeyes’ title hopes. Drake has not yet provided an update on the severity of Peyton’s injury, though Taylor posted on X that her sister suffered a “severe” injury and asked followers to send “well wishes and prayers.”
This isn’t the first time the McCabe family has navigated hardship. Taylor, a senior from Fremont, Nebraska, has been a key part of the Iowa program during its most successful era. She was on the 2023 and 2024 teams that reached the national championship game, a testament to her resilience and skill. She started 39 of the past 54 games, including all 20 this season, and leaves as one of the program’s greatest shooters, having made 40.7% of her career 3-point attempts, tied for the best in program history.
Her loss is a massive blow to an Iowa team that was a national title contender. She was averaging 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, providing crucial outside shooting and steady floor presence. Her leadership, especially in a senior season, will be sorely missed as the Hawkeyes look to navigate the remainder of the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
The timing of these injuries is almost unfathomable. The sisters, who have built a reputation for toughness, now face a long road to recovery simultaneously. Taylor has already addressed the adversity with a strong message, posting on X, “This isn’t how I imagined my senior season ending, but adversity has always been part of the game. I’m committed to my recovery and to supporting my teammates in every way I can the rest of this season.”
Peyton, a sophomore, was also seeing her role increase with Drake. She had five points and two assists in 16 minutes before being injured and was averaging 1.1 points and 2.4 assists per game. Her injury presents a significant question mark for the Bulldogs’ backcourt as they push through their season.
The McCabe sisters’ story has always been one of family and perseverance. This latest chapter adds a layer of profound sadness and challenges the very definition of sibling rivalry. While they have always been on opposing teams, their shared journey has been one of mutual support. Now, they will begin their separate recovery processes, united by a shared experience of pain and a common goal of returning to the court stronger than ever.
For fans of both Iowa and Drake, this is a stark reminder of the fragility of an athlete’s career and the unpredictable nature of sports. The McCabe sisters have been a compelling storyline in women’s college basketball, and now their story takes an unexpected and somber turn that will resonate throughout the sport.
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