Former Iowa basketball player Denae Fritz loved playing at the Hilton Coliseum and in front of the school’s passionate fan base.
But there was one thing she didn’t like: the way Iowa State played.
Fritz said that led them to the transfer portal. She believes this is a big reason why several Cyclones, including two other starters, also decided to switch after the season ended.
“I don’t think anyone leaves for any other reason,” Fritz said. “People are great here. We love the fans. I can’t complain about that. But… I just don’t think that style of play suits how I want to shape my career.”
Basketball players from the US state of Iowa, including Lexi Donarski, have entered the transfer portal
Fritz is the fifth known player to enter the transfer portal since Iowa State’s sudden loss to Toledo in the first round of the NCAA tournament. She joined guards Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw and Lexi Donarski along with post players Morgan Kane and Maggie Vick.
Espenmiller-McGraw, who began her career as a regular, logged crucial minutes off the bench. Kane started parts of the last two seasons. Vick was a rarely used postal player. Donarski and Fritz were key contributors and surprising additions to the portal.
Donarski, a three-year starter, was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. Fritz, a redshirt freshman, played in three games as a freshman before missing the rest of the season with an injury. She returned in the 2022-23 season, starting 31 of 32 games for the Cyclones, averaging 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while helping Iowa State reach the NCAA tournament.
Why is Denae Fritz leaving the Cyclones?
After the season, Fritz said she went home to Tennessee and sat down with her family to discuss her future plans. Fritz said she decided she had to “find a better fit for my game offensively to take it to the next level”.
What is Fritz looking for?
“A faster offensive,” she said. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
Iowa State Coach Bill Fennelly was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
Iowa State Statistics Emily Ryan confirms the return
Iowa State ranked 28th (out of 350 teams) on offense in Division I this season with an average of 75.4 points per game. Only Oklahoma had a higher average among Big 12 teams.
Iowa State ranked fifth in the Big 12 in offensive pace with 72.2 possessions per game, according to herhoopstats.com. Oklahoma was No. 1 in the league with 78.9, followed by Kansas State with 73.9.
The Cyclones’ offense has traditionally been based on 3-point shooting, and that was also the case in 2022-23. Iowa State averaged nearly 27 attempts per game from beyond the arc, which ranked 11th among Division I teams. Only one Power 5 conference school (Arkansas) attempted more 3 pointers per competition than the Cyclones.
Fritz thanked the fans for their support at Iowa State over the past two seasons.
“It was a great atmosphere to play in,” said Fritz. “Obviously they are a great audience. They obviously bring the energy and honesty to each night that many of us couldn’t do without. They change the game in many ways that they are not aware of. We really appreciate them on all levels.”
Emily Ryan, the Cyclones’ top returnee, reiterated her commitment to the program on her Twitter account Tuesday night. “Ride or die through anything. Love you Cyclone Nation,” Ryan tweeted, complete with photos of Fennelly and the coaching staff.
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports company and reporter, has worked at the newspaper since 2008. He is the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. You can reach him at [email protected] or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.