For her, playing alongside Caitlin Clark was more than just a wish. It was a major factor in her decision to commit to Iowa. The four-star recruit from Peoria, Illinois, had envisioned learning from the generational talent. “I’ve thought about all the possibilities, especially of her coming back and how I could learn from her,” Aaliyah Guyton said in late 2023. So, when the 2024 WNBA All-Star declared she would forgo her final year of eligibility and move on to the WNBA, Guyton never got to share the floor with one of the greatest players in history. Little did she know what life had planned for her!
Despite not playing with Clark, Aaliyah Guyton quickly became a name at Iowa. After recovering from an ACL injury that cut her senior high school season short, she wasted no time proving her worth. On Nov. 25, she finally made her collegiate debut, and the dynamic guard was the one fans were waiting to see against Washington State. As the season progressed, she became a key contributor off the bench, averaging 4.7 points in 16.4 minutes per game. And now, she too is leaving the Hawkeyes.
According to sources, Guyton has officially entered the transfer portal. No doubt this was an unexpected move, as the Iowa program is already dealing with a seismic shift following #22’s departure. But what makes it even more of a loss is Guyton’s standout performances!
BREAKING: Iowa’s Aaliyah Guyton has entered the transfer portal, sources told @On3sports.
The 5-7 freshman averaged 4.7 ppg this season.
TRACKER: https://t.co/StsxDxjlYl pic.twitter.com/UuSQU6VKay
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) March 31, 2025
Consider her 11-point contribution in 24 minutes against BYU in the Cancun Challenge when she stepped up in Lucy Olsen’s absence. She even scored nine points in 20 minutes against Purdue. She’d then go on to post a career-high 15 points in 31 minutes against Northwestern.
When the Hawkeyes struggled with inconsistency throughout the season, her energy kept her a regular part of the rotation. That’s why even head coach Jan Jensen called her a “vocal leader” despite being a freshman.
So, why did she make this huge decision?
3 Reasons that might have contributed to Guyton’s decision
Guyton’s decision to enter the transfer portal comes as a shock, especially given her steady rise within the team. But she has her reasons. With Clark gone, Iowa brought in top-ranked high school recruit Addie Deal. On the other hand, returning players like Taylor Stremlow were also expected to take on bigger roles. So, it’s quite natural that Guyton may have seen the writing on the wall—facing increased competition for playing time. But, that’s not the only reason she has got.
While the Hawkeyes standout had flashes of brilliance, her offensive consistency faded down the stretch. Over Iowa’s final 13 games, she shot just 25% from the field and 22% from three, while committing 24 turnovers. So it’s possible that she could have made her decision to see transfer as an opportunity to replenish her skills.
And to be honest, if she hadn’t made this move, she would have landed in a strange situation. This is because head coach Jan Jensen has a replacement plan. While she has already added three new recruits, she has also stated that Iowa will be aggressive in the transfer portal. And honestly, they need this!
The team posted a 20-9 record under first-year head coach. In the Big Ten Tournament, they made it to the quarterfinals. But despite all efforts, the Hawkeyes were eliminated early in the NCAA Tournament. Not just that, the team’s attendance dropped by 30%, highlighting the void created by the absence of prominent stars like Caitlin Clark. So, this move is pretty much needed. But for Guyton, this could be an exclusive opportunity. No doubt she will have plenty of suitors looking for talent.
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