Syracuse women's basketball scores Iowa transfer who will provide 'instant offense'

Syracuse women's basketball added to its 2026-27 roster on Wednesday, the program announced.

Emely Rodriguez, a sophomore wing at Big Ten Conference school Iowa, will transfer to the Orange. She's an excellent scorer, although her 2025-26 campaign was cut short due to an injury.

The 6-foot Rodriguez, who hails from La Romana, Dominican Republic, only played in six games this past term, as Iowa went 27-7 overall and reached the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. In those six contests, Rodriguez averaged 14.2 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while connecting on 42.5 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.

In a prepared statement, Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said: "Emely will bring us instant offense. She is a ferocious competitor that is willing to lay it on the line every day. I love Emely's intensity of purpose, passion, and defense! I am thrilled to get this HUGE YES in May!"

Syracuse women's basketball continues to construct its 2026-27 roster.

As a freshman in the 2024-25 term, Rodriguez was fabulous while competing for Big 12 Conference member UCF. She averaged 26.4 minutes, 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while hitting on 40.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 75.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Rodriguez, in 2024-25, was named to the All-Big 12 freshman team. As a prep recruit, she was a top prospect coming out of South Florida. Per cuse.com, Rodriguez "helped lead Central Pointe Academy to the SIAA State Championship and was named the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Girl's Basketball Player of the Year. She also guided Horeb Christian to its first-ever state championship game appearance in 2023, averaging 26.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game at the prep level."

This offseason, the Orange's transfer class features Rodriguez, Temple junior forward Jaleesa Molina, SMU graduate student guard Tyi Skinner and Oregon junior forward Sarah Rambus. SU's 2026 high school class includes forward Destiny Robinson of St. Mary's College Preparatory High School in Manhasset, N.Y., and guard Madison Howard of Monsignor Scanlan High School in the Bronx, N.Y.

The 'Cuse went 24-9 overall this past season, advancing to the Big Dance's second round. Key returnees are expected to include freshman center Uche Izoje, the ACC's rookie of the year in 2025-26, and sophomore wing Shy Hawkins.

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