Emily Ryan's heartfelt return comes with standing ovation from Iowa State basketball fans

AMES – Emily Ryan was going through one-on-one drills with assistant coach Jodi Steyer 90 minutes or so before Iowa State’s basketball game against Troy on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.

Her shots swished. Ball-handling was impeccable. There was no let-up. She didn’t want to stop, even for a quick breather.

Then with 3 minutes 29 seconds left in the first quarter of what became Iowa State’s 105-68 victory, up from the bench she sprang, and into the game she went.

Finally, for the first time since playing all 40 minutes in last season’s NCAA Tournament loss against Toledo, Ryan was seeing action in a game.

Em, as they call her, was back – and running onto the floor to a loud standing ovation.

"It was tough," Ryan said about not playing. "You always want to be out there. Just having the opportunity to finally do that – it was a special moment."

Good news for Bill Fennelly’s program? Sure, but better news for the senior, who hadn’t played while recovering from what the team called a “health-related issue.”

That statement, announced before the season, said Ryan was receiving care from the Iowa State medical staff, while “working hard to get back on the court with her teammates.”

Sunday, that happened.

“Had a few tears, for sure,” Fennelly said after the game. “I think everyone loves what Emily Ryan is about as a person and as a player. The way she represents this program and the university is truly spectacular.

“Our fans understand how hard she had to work to get back to the court.”

Addy Brown had a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double. Audi Crooks had 21 points and nine boards. Nyamer Diew scored 20 as the Cyclones’ record improved to 6-4.

Iowa State made a whopping 16 three-point shots. The Cyclones had 26 assists.

Ryan, however, was the story, even while cheerleading on the bench as her teammates roared to a 9-0 lead – as Crooks, Hannah Belanger and Diew sank long three-pointers. She was the first to congratulate players as they returned to the bench. She mentored players individually.

“I was just focused on making the right play each time, and doing whatever the team needed,” Ryan said, standing outside the locker room after the game. “I just try and do whatever I can in the moment.

“If I’m on the bench, I try to help any way I can. If I’m on the court, I’m just trying to help the team make plays.”

What Ryan means to this program from a leadership standpoint is off the charts.

“She’s kind of become the point-guard coach,” Fennelly said after Sunday’s game. “You can tell when she’s playing, there’s a calming effect that she provides. She understands what we want to do, what we need to do, and I think it puts other people in a better position.

“Hopefully we’ll keep trying to find ways to increase her time.”

Ryan, a program loyalist after an off-season of multiple transfer portal defections, came into this season having started 93 of the 95 games she played since entering college.

Her resume includes All-Big 12 selections since her sophomore season and 1,000 career points. Ryan entered the season third in career assists at ISU, and she owns the school single-game record with 17 assists at TCU (Feb. 12, 2022).

During nine first-half minutes, Ryan scored five points, grabbed four rebounds and had two assists. The plan was for 10 or so minutes, so she spent the second half leading from the bench.

Yes, Emily Ryan was back.

I revisited a story colleague Tommy Birch wrote last June. The following quotes tell what a healthy Ryan means to what just might be Fennelly’s youngest team:

• “At the end of the day, when the story is written about Iowa State women’s basketball and the people that impacted it ... her name will be one of the first that you think of,” Fennelly said.

• “I would say if she didn’t come back, I wouldn’t be here,” Fennelly continued.

• “There was never a thought to leave,” Ryan said. “I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. There’s no better place than Cyclone Nation.”

She said that months before her Sunday standing ovation echoed throughout Hilton’s rafters.

"Em’s a great person," Diew said. "She deserves everything and better, and more. She deserves it all. There’s no way we could be who we are without Emily Ryan. She’s probably the best teammate, the best person on this team.

"Em's just the best person ever."

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, on X @RandyPete, and at DesMoinesRegister.com/CyclonesTexts

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State women's basketball fans welcome back Emily Ryan