diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 2ae483b..ce7b269 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# impectPy 2.4.5
+
+# Minor Changes
+* fix bug in `getPlayerIterationAverages()`function
+
 # impectPy 2.4.4
 
 # Major Changes
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 018d85c..d42a21f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 A package provided by: Impect GmbH
 
-Version: v2.4.4
+Version: v2.4.5
 
-**Updated: June 5th 2025**
+**Updated: June 26th 2025**
 
 ---
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ You can install the latest version of impectPy from
 [GitHub](https://github.com/) with:
 
 ``` cmd
-pip install git+https://github.com/ImpectAPI/impectPy.git@v2.4.4
+pip install git+https://github.com/ImpectAPI/impectPy.git@v2.4.5
 ```
 
 ## Usage
diff --git a/impectPy/iteration_averages.py b/impectPy/iteration_averages.py
index 6c38124..eee1c5e 100644
--- a/impectPy/iteration_averages.py
+++ b/impectPy/iteration_averages.py
@@ -122,13 +122,16 @@ def getPlayerIterationAveragesFromHost(
         if len(averages_raw["name"][averages_raw["name"].isnull()]) > 0:
             averages_raw["name"] = averages_raw["name"].fillna("-1")
 
-        # downcast numerics and category types
-        averages_raw["iterationId"] = averages_raw["iterationId"].astype("Int16")
-        averages_raw["squadId"] = averages_raw["squadId"].astype("Int16")
-        averages_raw["playerId"] = averages_raw["playerId"].astype("Int32")
-        averages_raw["position"] = averages_raw["position"].astype("category")
-        averages_raw["name"] = averages_raw["name"].astype("category")
-        averages_raw["value"] = averages_raw["value"].astype("Float32")
+        # get KPIs without a scoring
+        mask = (
+                averages_raw.iterationId.isnull()
+                & averages_raw.squadId.isnull()
+                & averages_raw.playerId.isnull()
+                & averages_raw.position.isnull()
+        )
+
+        # fill join cols with placeholder
+        averages_raw.loc[mask] = averages_raw.loc[mask].fillna(-1)
 
         # pivot kpi values
         averages_raw = pd.pivot_table(
@@ -146,6 +149,14 @@ def getPlayerIterationAveragesFromHost(
         if "-1" in averages_raw.columns:
             averages_raw.drop(["-1"], inplace=True, axis=1)
 
+        # drop -1 rows
+        averages_raw = averages_raw[
+            ~(averages_raw.iterationId == -1)
+            & ~(averages_raw.squadId == -1)
+            & ~(averages_raw.playerId == -1)
+            & ~(averages_raw.position == -1)
+        ]
+
         # merge with playDuration and matchShare
         averages_raw = averages_raw.merge(
             match_shares_raw,
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index bbc98af..d0a8eb1 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
                       "pandas>=2.0.0",
                       "numpy>=1.24.2,<2.0"],
     # *strongly* suggested for sharing
-    version="2.4.4",
+    version="2.4.5",
     # The license can be anything you like
     license="MIT",
     description="A Python package to facilitate interaction with the Impect customer API",