Cassidy Rowe is not going to finish her women’s college basketball career at Kentucky. She has decided to step away from the game all together and will retire after just three seasons.
The announcement came as a bit of a surprise. However, it seems as though the rising senior was an unfortunate casualty of a change at head coach.
Rowe, a fan favorite among Big Blue Nation, actually committed to play college basketball at Kentucky in middle school. She grew up as a fan of the Wildcats in the small town of Virgie, approximately two hours and 40 minutes southeast of Lexington. It was her dream school. She was never going to play anywhere else even though she had multiple offers to do so.
Upon arrival to campus, Rowe quickly won over the fanbase as an in-state prospect who is described as a “high-motor gym rat.” The 5-foot-5 point guard played in 13 games and averaged just 4.1 minutes per game as a freshman. She averaged 2.6 points, 1.3 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game over 31 games as a sophomore with 16 starts.
That trend did not continue during the 2024-25 season. Cassidy Rowe saw her minutes drop signficantly in only 23 games with no starts. But that did not keep her from contributing! Her role as a leader and as a spark plug off of the bench was just as important as her time on the floor.
Rowe was also the lone in-state player on the roster. Kentucky blue runs through her blood.
Unfortunately, she will not get to play her final year of eligibility at the school she loves so deepy.
Kyra Elzy was fired as head coach in early March. Kenny Brooks, the former head coach at Virginia Tech, took over as her replacement not long thereafter. He was immediately forced to make a tough roster decision.
Brooks and his staff encouraged Rowe to transfer. They told her that she will not have a spot next year.
Cassidy Rowe does not want to play anywhere else. If not Kentucky, then nowhere. She is stepping away from the sport all together. I had to break out the tissues after reading her goodbye post.
Wow…I wasn’t expecting this to be a goodbye post. I wanted nothing more than to play my senior year in a Kentucky uniform, but I know that God has bigger and better plans for me. Sometimes “no” is God’s way of preventing us from greater heartbreak.
What a blessing basketball has been in my life. Basketball was my very first love. I spent every single day in the gym working towards a dream that many people called me crazy for having. After facing back to back ACL tears, I sometimes questioned it myself. But through hard work and God’s faithfulness I was able to represent my home state and become a Kentucky wildcat. Truly a dream come true.
These past three years have been some of the hardest, yet most rewarding and joyous times of my life. I am thankful for the bad times just as much as the good because it all brought me closer to God. I have met so many amazing people and made memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
While I still have a year of eligibility left, I will not be entering the transfer portal. I will be pursuing my new dream of becoming a physical therapist through UK’s DPT program.
Younger me would be crushed that our basketball career is over, but she also wouldn’t believe all of the things we’ve accomplished. I know she is proud
To Big Blue Nation: Thank you. Thank you for your unwavering support and for giving this small town girl the opportunity to live out her wildest dreams. I poured everything I have into this program and you all poured into me just the same. I will forever be grateful for that… and I will always bleed blue.
John 13:7
— @crowe_5 / Instagram
Business is business and sometimes business hurts. I completely understand that Brooks had to do what he needs to do for his program. It is time for a fresh start. I get it.
At the same time, it seems to me like there was an opportunity to create a singular roster spot for Cassidy Rowe. The fans love her. Her teammates love her. She works hard.
Surely there must be room for someone who is so beloved by Big Blue Nation and Kentucky. Even as a walk-on. No? It’s just one year.
The post Kentucky Forced Beloved Women’s Basketball Player Into Retirement After Just Three Seasons appeared first on BroBible.
Kentucky Forced Beloved Women’s Basketball Player Into Retirement After Just Three Seasons
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