OPINION

Entering the 2025-26 season, expectations were high for Rockhurst women’s basketball. Three transfers arrived from NIACC. Redshirt freshman Kayla Reis was set to return after tearing her ACL in practice during the 2024-25 season, and three returning starters were expected to anchor the roster. In June, 17 athletes were on the official roster.

More than halfway through the season, only eight healthy players remain.

The change of fortune for the Hawks felt sudden, emotional and at times fearful, as the team found itself wondering who would be next to go down.

As luck would have it, my own trip to the injured list came Dec. 15, during the eighth game of the season, when on a layup late in the third quarter I landed in pain after feeling a pop in my knee. Days later, an ACL tear was confirmed.

There is no indication that any injuries the team has faced this season were the result of negligence or intentional actions, and sports injuries typically stem from multiple overlapping factors rather than a single cause. In many ways, this year’s women’s basketball season has underscored how difficult it can be to balance preparation and player health.

In a statement to The Sentinel after this column was published, Rockhurst athletic director Kristy Bayer emphasized that the athletics program follows recommended health and safety guidelines for student-athletes, and that the director of sports medicine, who oversees the athletic performance staff, “routinely monitors Athletic Performance programs for safety concerns.” Bayer added that due to HIPAA regulations, the university does not comment on individual medical situations.

Preseason began with optimism but gradually shifted to concern. Consistent with prior years, the team began its return to campus by asking players to complete max lifts in the weight room.

For many players, the physical demand felt intense. The weight program was designed to mirror higher-level collegiate structures. Heavy lifting sessions often flowed directly into physically demanding practices, creating what some players described as a difficult transition with little recovery time in between.

As injuries accumulated and the roster shrank, players requested adjustments to the weight load. At times, they also grew frustrated with what felt like inconsistent routines, with portions of the team completing different exercises, though training adjustments commonly occur throughout athletic seasons as staff respond to athlete needs.

Junior guard Chloe Frank recalled the moment her season changed, during an early January practice when the team was asked to do a large set of split squats, on top of several other heavy movements, ahead of practice that day.

“We of course wanted to do well, so we lifted heavy like we were told. But at one point it was too much. After that weight session, we went straight to practice and immediately started scrimmaging. I felt my left quad getting tight and about 30 minutes into practice, I tore my ACL,” Frank said.

In her statement, Bayer, the athletic director, said that “the Athletic Performance staff consistently allows for modifications based on individual student-athlete needs and encourages communication from student-athletes about those specific needs. Sport Coaches are also encouraged to communicate practice plans to allow for coordination of training sessions.”

While injuries are a reality in any sport, the physical demands of preseason may have been one of several contributing factors. Many athletes train independently over the summer, but returning to structured preseason practices can place additional strain on the body.

Practices were intense and competitive, as preseason is critical for team development. At times, warmups were shorter than ideal. When combined with heavy lifting sessions, the overall workload became challenging to manage.

Off the court, gym conditions also became a concern for some players. Team members said they repeatedly requested that the floor be swept and cleaned before games. Students sometimes used the gym in street shoes after practices, leaving the surface slick.

Senior guard Julia Wright described how that affected daily drills.

“I felt like I couldn’t move and was afraid of slipping during simple drills, let alone scrimmaging,” Wright said.

Players often wiped their shoes between drills to regain traction. Some on the women’s team felt at times the court conditions were lesser on their gamedays than the men’s team. 

Bayer said in her statement that the cleaning of gym floors is “tightly scheduled” to accommodate the needs of both home and visiting teams in practices and games. Changes in times or location to games or practices can impact the ability to clean the space in a timely manner, she said.

“At no time was gender a factor in deciding when to clean the floor,” Bayer said.

The injuries began in the summer and continued into the season. Sophomore guard Sadie Conway tore her ACL during a personal summer workout, the second ACL tear of her career. Within weeks, senior starters Frank and Clare Deiner both tore their ACLs during preseason scrimmages at Rockhurst. Their losses loomed large, as last season they combined to average more than 23 minutes per game and shot over 40% from 3-point range.

Junior transfer Alexis Schroeder, recovering from a December 2024 ACL tear, took a medical redshirt after complications required another surgery. Senior forward Bailey Brown underwent compartment surgery on both legs for the second time and was medically retired.

By winter break, junior guard Aubrey Treadwell broke her thumb and was expected to miss eight weeks. Center Cristina Luquin, after battling knee pain throughout the season, opted for meniscus surgery in December.

The Hawks were left with 10 available players heading into the break.

After my injury in mid-December, the roster had dropped from 17 players to eight — barely enough to run full practice drills. Assistant women’s basketball coach Brian Moeller stepped into drills to keep practices functional. The possibility of bringing in men’s practice players was discussed, but the team ultimately chose to continue competing with its remaining roster.

The number of injuries this season has been difficult for the team, though injuries remain an inherent part of athletics and often result from multiple overlapping factors rather than a single cause.

Still, the team continued. With six games remaining, Treadwell has returned, and the Hawks continue to compete. The new year opened with a win over Southwest Baptist, and the team has remained competitive despite players adjusting to unfamiliar roles and battling illness.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference is a demanding Division II conference where no game is easy. Through it all, Rockhurst women’s basketball has leaned on resilience, trust and togetherness. 

The season may not have unfolded as envisioned, but it has revealed a level of toughness and unity that defines the program.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated Feb. 25 throughout to include clarifications and responses from Rockhurst Athletics.