Ava Jones, a former player for the Iowa basketball team, revealed on social media this Saturday that she has been diagnosed with cancer, specifically Hodgkin lymphoma.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Jones shared her diagnosis, emphasizing the emotional weight of the news. Her journey has already been marred by tragedy—just after her commitment to play for the Hawkeyes in 2022, she and her family were involved in a serious car accident in Kentucky, which resulted in the death of her father, Trey Jones, and left her with significant injuries, including a brain injury.

“I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma after the results from the biopsy came back,” she expressed. “This is the news no one ever wants to get, especially after spending the last 2.5 years working hard to recover from getting hit by a car. My body is very strong, and I have confidence in the doctors here at Iowa.” Her former teammate, Caitlin Clark, expressed support by commenting on her post, saying, “Praying for you kid.”

Despite the challenges she faced, Jones’ scholarship remained intact, allowing her to be part of the basketball team as a freshman. However, after enduring multiple surgeries to address her brain injury and several torn ligaments in her knees, she made the difficult decision to medically retire eight months ago. Initially, she had hopes of contributing to the team during her time at Iowa but ultimately had to shift her focus.

When announcing her medical retirement, Jones reflected on her experience, stating, “It is with great sadness to announce that I am medically retiring from college basketball. My coaches, doctors, teammates, and trainers have been amazing since the accident. While I will no longer be a member of the women’s basketball program, I will still be on scholarship, receive a world-class education, and forever be a Hawkeye. I’d like to thank my family for their never-ending support, and I am excited for the next chapter of my life.”