"I'm excited to really show what I can do", Taylor McCabe ready for her opportunity to shine at Iowa
Iowa junior shooting guard Taylor McCabe has been a part of the greatest two-year run in Iowa Women’s Basketball history. Two national title games, two Big Ten Tournament titles and sold-out crowds across the country. There’s no doubt that it has been an incredible experience, but a lot of those experiences included her sitting on the bench. Now it’s year three for Taylor and she’s ready to make her mark on the program.
“I am excited. I feel like I’ve gotten some of that watching experience as a younger player, so now that I kind of made it through that, I’m excited to really show what I can do and put all that watching into execution on the court,” said McCabe during team media day.
A former four-star recruit out of Fremont High School in Nebraska, Taylor was the 2022 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, holds the Nebraska state record for most three-pointers and is the all-time leading scorer in Fremont school history. In her first two seasons at Iowa, Taylor has been blocked from significant playing time due to a veteran laden roster that included Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall all starting at guard. With all three of those players graduated and moved on, the time has come for Taylor to step into the starting lineup.
“It’s been such a motivation factor for me, not only this offseason, but even within that past two years, that’s really what’s kept me in the gym and kept me going, is knowing that this day was going to come.”
Although she gotten limited time on the floor, playing in just 51 of 77 games and averaging 8.0 minutes in those contests, McCabe has still wowed the crowd with her three-point shooting. She has knocked 55 of her 124 career three-point attempts, which is good for 44.4% shooting and an incredible 5.39 made threes per 40 minutes. That includes some absurd appearances, like making six threes in 13 minutes against FGCU and five threes in 12 minutes against Minnesota. Simply put, Taylor can light it up with the best shooters in the country when given the opportunity.
That full-time opportunity comes this season, as one clear need for the Hawkeyes is three-point shooting. They lost 79.6% of their made threes from a year ago, including 201 of them from Caitlin Clark. If Iowa wants to finish near the top of the Big Ten, someone needs to step up in the three-point shooting department. Taylor has the confidence and shooting ability needed to be that elite three-point shooter the Hawkeyes need.
“I’m getting so many more opportunities in practice, and I just feel the confidence growing and building day-by-day…I’ve always been confident in myself; I’ve always been confident in my shot,” said McCabe. “I want to make 100 (threes) for sure.”
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“I feel like I’ve grown in my understanding how to manipulate our offense to get my (shots),” said McCabe. “It’s hard being a three-point scorer. Anyone can be a three-point shooter, it’s hard being a three-point scorer and finding opportunities for yourself and getting yourself open, so I feel like I’ve really gotten better at finding opportunities for myself.”
High-level three-point shooting isn’t her only goal for the upcoming season. She also wants to lead the team in plus/minus, something that former Hawkeye Kate Martin excelled in during her time at Iowa. Taylor also says she’s focused on using her voice more often on the court.
“I told the coaches I want to lead the team in plus/minus, so that’s been a goal of mine and I’m trying to focus on that during practices,” said McCabe. “I think it’s just being extremely consistent, which is something I can do, I know I can do.”
“I really focus on being more of the positive leader, being vocal and just making sure everybody’s on the same page…We have so many people that are talking and being leaders this year, which is a good thing to have. Being someone who doesn’t have the experience like a Syd or Hannah, you just need that leader that brings that aspect of affirmation to everyone, making sure everyone’s on the same page and tells everyone they’re doing a good job, and keeping the vibes positive.”
The Hawkeyes kick off the 2024-25 season with an exhibition game against DII Missouri Western on October 30th at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tipoff is set for 6:30pm CT on BTN+.
