Nikki Moody reinstated to women’s basketball team
Brian Achenbach/Iowa State Daily
ISU women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly talks to Nikki Moody as she jogs toward the bench during Iowa State’s 67-57 loss to Oklahoma State on March 8, 2014 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. Moody is suing Fennelly and Iowa State for what she says was racial discrimination.
November 7, 2014
Nikki Moody, guard on the ISU women’s basketball team, has been reinstated. The reinstatement was announced by ISU coach Bill Fennelly on Nov. 7.
Moody’s suspension was announced Oct. 31 and was said to be the result of behavioral problems in practice. Moody, a senior, will begin practicing with the team Nov. 7 but will not play in Iowa State’s exhibition game against Winona State on Nov. 9.
She will be eligible for playing time in the Cyclones’ season opener against USC Upstate on Nov. 16.
“Moving on forward, I’m just happy to be back on the team and be back with my teammates,” Moody said. “[I’m learning] just to be a better teammate, just to have trust in my coaches and put it all in their hands and just play whatever role or do whatever they need me to do for the season to be successful.”
Even when Moody is available to play Nov. 16, her minutes won’t be guaranteed, as Fennelly said she’ll have to work for them just like anyone on the team.
“It’s not going to be, Nikki’s back [and] we’re going to throw her right back in there,” Fennelly said. “She’s going to have to earn her spot with everyone — not just her coaches, but her teammates.”
Though Moody’s battle to regain her old status as a key contributor is far from over, she and Fennelly believe she has taken away an important lesson.
“I love basketball. Basketball is important to me,” Moody said. “Taking that away and kind of having to sit back and not be there for my teammates, it hurts. But at the same time, like I said, I’m learning from it.”
