Sydney Affolter is a rising star in women’s college basketball, currently playing as a guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference.
Born on April 14 in Chicago, Illinois, Sydney grew up in a family deeply rooted in basketball, inheriting a passion for the sport from her father, who played college basketball at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Her journey in basketball began early, leading her grade school team at St. Christina School to an undefeated record from fourth through eighth grade.
Sydney later excelled at Marist High School in Chicago, where she won two regional championships and earned all-state honors three times.
Siblings
Sydney has one sibling, her older brother Trey Affolter.
Trey followed in his father’s footsteps by playing college basketball at St. Ambrose University, an NAIA school in Davenport, Iowa.
Growing up in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood, Sydney and Trey were competitive from a young age, often battling it out in one-on-one games in their driveway.
Career
Affolter’s basketball career is marked by steady growth and impressive achievements.
After a stellar high school tenure at Marist, where she scored over 1,000 points and grabbed more than 500 rebounds, she committed to the University of Iowa in January 2020 as a junior.
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She also went undefeated in 48 games with the All Iowa Attack AAU team during the summer of 2020, further solidifying her reputation as a top prospect.
Sydney joined the Iowa Hawkeyes for the 2021–22 season, making an immediate impact as a freshman by appearing in 19 games.
She debuted against New Hampshire and scored a then-career-high eight points against Southern University.
Her sophomore year saw her stepping up as a reliable bench player, contributing to Iowa’s run to the 2023 NCAA Championship game.
She posted career highs of 14 points and eight rebounds against No. 7 Maryland, showcasing her potential.
The 2023–24 season was a breakout year for Sydney.
After an injury to starting guard Molly Davis, she stepped into the starting lineup during the 2024 postseason, proving her worth with a series of standout performances.
She recorded her first career double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) against Rutgers and set a career-high 14 rebounds against No. 8 Virginia Tech.
Her offensive peak came with 18 points against Penn State, and she earned all-tournament honors at the 2024 Big Ten Tournament with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game.
In the NCAA Tournament, Sydney averaged 13.3 points and six rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 64.3% from the field, and helped Iowa reach the Final Four with 16 points and five rebounds against LSU.
Her efforts earned her a spot on the Albany 2 All-Regional Team.
Off the court, Sydney’s dedication extends to academics, as she pursues a degree in Health and Human Physiology and has been named to the Dean’s List at Iowa.
In 2024, she was selected for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s So You Want To Be A Coach program, signaling her interest in a future coaching career.
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