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BECOME A WBA VIP | *Every made Field Goal & Blocked Shot from Stephanie's 2022-2023 season with Iowa State. VIDEO CREDIT: @KCCI @P14Edicoes @CycloneFanaticTV MUSIC CREDIT: @onze20 and Yarbrough & Peoples, Don't Stop The Music If the Iowa State women's basketball team is going to accomplish many of the lofty goals predicted for them at the start of the season, it'll have to do it without one of its biggest stars. Iowa State announced Monday that starting center/forward Stephanie Soares suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. Soares went down early in the first quarter of No. 11 Iowa State's Sunday showdown at No. 16 Oklahoma and never returned. It's the same ACL Soares tore while playing at her former school, The Master's University (CA). “This was not how I expected my season to end, but I am thankful for the opportunities I have gotten at Iowa State,” Soares said in a statement announcing the news. “I could not have done this without the support of my teammates, coaches, doctors and athletic training staff and the fans at Hilton Coliseum. I know God gives me strength to get through this challenge in my life. I look forward to being there for my teammates and helping them achieve our goals and make the most of this special season.” Her absence is a big-time blow for the Cyclones (10-3, 2-1 Big 12), which entered the season as the preseason pick to win the Big 12 Conference and were expected to go a long way in the NCAA tournament after reaching the Sweet 16 last season. More:Iowa State star Stephanie Soares suffers knee injury during first half of game at Oklahoma Soares, a 6-foot-6 graduate transfer from The Master's, was a big reason why. The Cyclones were in desperate need of adding some strength and size to the post position and got it by bringing in Soares. Soares was a two-time NAIA Player of the Year and had already adapted nicely to her new team and new level, ranking as the second-highest scorer on ISU's roster behind Ashley Joens. She's started every game for Iowa State this season and averaged 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and three blocks per game. Her play has been so impressive that Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly recently said Soares had been capturing the attention of WNBA teams and was moving into prime position to get selected in this year's draft. “As a coach, there is nothing worse than to have a player sustain an injury that ends their season,” Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly said in the statement. “We are heartbroken for Steph, I am proud of her and the major impact that she has made on our program and Iowa State University.” More:Iowa State women's basketball needed help in the post. Stephanie Soares was the answer. The loss of Soares is the second hit to Iowa State's post play already this season. Beatriz Jordao, a 6-foot-3 center, announced her retirement earlier in the year due to medical reasons after battling chronic injuries in her lower leg. Even without the two, Iowa State still has some experience in its front court. Morgan Kane, a 6-foot-3 redshirt senior, started 30 of Iowa State's 34 games last season and averaged a career-high 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
