Injury Prevention and Recovery: How NCAA Women’s Basketball Programs Prioritize Player Well-Being

The NCAA Women’s Basketball can be a tedious sport, and injuries can surface. Yet, it’s important for every program to do its best to avoid injuries. That is why the prevention of injuries is most important, especially during the season. One of the first steps to prevent injury is to focus on strength-based training to evaluate the strength of muscles and balance. It also focuses on athletes' weaknesses, specifically on knee extensions and flexors. Also, the NCAA has an Injury Surveillance System, known as ISS. This provides data on injury rates and trends. With the use of ISS it has helped with decision-making and adjustments to training regimes. Another key area to focus on is the preseason. During preseason, players focus on training techniques that can reduce the risk of injury and improve their performance. Lastly, there are also injury prevention programs and strength and conditioning personnel to help avoid possible injuries.  

Injuries 

Just this last season, many players endured injuries. Laila Phelia, who played for Michigan and is currently at Texas, suffered from a detached cornea and has not played since December. Aaliyah Moore, who plays for Texas, suffered a knee injury and has not returned. Ashlyn Watkins, who plays for South Carolina, suffered a torn ACL, and Paige Bueckers, who plays for UConn, suffered a knee sprain. Such injuries impact a player exponentially due to basketball playing a big role in their lives. However, with rehabilitation and effort, the players will be able to return to the court.  

Recovery 

When an injury occurs, it’s never concrete as to how long an athlete will sit out immediately after it happens. That’s why getting it checked out right away is important to understand what is going on. Not only by the athletic trainers, but also by a doctor if needed. When the players first encounter an injury on the court, the player is evaluated by the medical staff to determine the type and severity of the injury. If the injury is serious, the player may have to get surgery and begin rehabilitation. The NCAA provides catastrophic injury insurance coverage for medical expenses exceeding $90,000 if the injury occurred during a covered activity. During the recovery, the players' progress is monitored closely, and updates are given to the coaching staff and fans. Once the player's recovery improves, they may get the chance to participate in practices and games depending on their condition.