Bri McDaniel will redshirt Maryland women’s basketball’s season as she continues to recover from a torn ACL, she announced Friday on Instagram.
McDaniel, who injured her knee in January, underwent surgery and hasn’t taken the court since. She was originally expected to return at some point this season, but instead will prioritize “being 100% to return to play.”
“Being a Terp means so much to me that I want to give you 100%,” McDaniel said in the post. “Rehab has been progressing but I am not where I need to be.”
[The science behind Maryland women’s basketball’s ACL injury history]
McDaniel averaged 10.6 points in 17 games during her junior year in a bench role. She started in 25 games the year before and established herself as a crucial part of the team’s identity.
Coach Brenda Frese said Thursday that McDaniel had slowly been building up to contact drills. Just a day later, McDaniel announced her decision.
McDaniel is the fourth Terp guard ruled out for the season. Lea Bartelme and Ava McKennie tore their ACLs in November, and Kaylene Smikle elected to end her season Dec. 7 and undergo knee surgery.
Frese said at media day that Maryland’s “biggest opponent” this season would be health. That prediction has proven correct as the Terps’ odds of a successful conference season have come into question.
