In an unexpected twist in the current college basketball season, the TCU women's basketball team has had to forfeit their upcoming games against Kansas State, slated for Wednesday, and Iowa State, scheduled for Saturday, due to a shortage of available players. The announcement was confirmed by the Big 12 Conference on Wednesday, sending ripples through the league's conference play.
The Horned Frogs, who hold a 14-4 record and a 1-4 standing in the Big 12, were poised to face two ranked teams: No. 7 Kansas State, followed by a match against No. 24 Iowa State. The specific reasons behind TCU's player deficit were not fully disclosed by the conference. According to Big 12 regulations, a team that cannot field enough players must forfeit unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
A press release from TCU stated that “The cancellations are a result of injuries within the TCU program and ensure the health and safety of the program's student-athletes.”
The decision means Iowa State and Kansas State will each receive a win in the league standings, while TCU will add two losses to their record. However, the overall records of the teams will remain unaffected, in line with NCAA policy.
While TCU has not provided any further comment about the forfeits, as reported by the Associated Press, the team had recently announced a significant blow to their lineup on Tuesday: point guard Jaden Owens suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee during Saturday's game against Houston, ruling her out for the remainder of the season. In that game, TCU had 10 players in action.
The Horned Frogs are set to return to the court on Jan. 23, hosting the University of Central Florida.