Iowa women's basketball continues quirky team tradition

USA Today

12 hours ago

Earlier this week during Iowa women's basketball's media availability following summer practice, senior forward Jada Gyamfi revealed a peculiar team tradition that will likely come as a shock to many Hawkeye fans and some unsuspecting teammates as well.
During her rounds with the local media, Gyamfi was asked if she had any unique veteran jokes or pranks she performs with the team after being around the program for the last three seasons.
The 6-foot-1 forward admitted to being the torchbearer of a long-standing locker room tradition, which she inherited from former Hawkeyes guard Kate Martin after Martin left the program following the 2023-24 season.
According to Gyamfi, this tradition involves the random placement of fake cockroaches in teammates' locker room stalls, personal belongings (such as backpacks and shoes) and even throwing them following workouts.
"Okay, so I have fake cockroaches in my locker. They have been passed down for many years. So Kate had them when I got here, and I took them from Kate when she left. So that's my go-to prank. Cockroach in your shoe.
"If you bring a backpack in, you might find a couple of fake cockroaches in there. Or sometimes, when everyone's really tired after weights or something, I'll just grab one and throw it and see if anyone notices. It's really funny," Gyamfi said.
When asked how long the tradition has been practiced within the Hawkeyes' locker room, Gyamfi was unsure, but said it had been occurring for around eight years.
"Oh my god. Well, probably like eight years. I don't know. But I need to buy more," Gyamfi said.
In a follow-up question on whether she believes Martin started the odd tradition, she immediately agreed and said that her locker currently has a jar of fake cockroaches waiting to be used.
"I believe so," Gyamfi answered. "So if you ever get a tour of the locker room and open my locker, you will see a mason jar of fake cockroaches."
While the tradition may cause some fans' skin to crawl, it has certainly created a lively locker room atmosphere for the Hawkeyes over time.
And, in big-time collegiate athletics, whatever can help lighten the mood at times is a tradition worth carrying on.
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