UConn women’s basketball sophomore Ayanna Patterson out for remainder of season

UConn women’s basketball forward Ayanna Patterson will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season, the team announced on Friday.

Coach Geno Auriemma said last week that Patterson’s knee injury was not responding to various approaches to treatment and she would likely need another procedure. The sophomore forward underwent surgery on her left knee on Thursday at UConn Health.

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“Ayanna’s been dealing with patellar tendonitis since high school,” Auriemma said in a statement on Friday. “She’s been rehabbing and undergoing treatments and decided with our medical staff that it was time to take care of the issue.”

The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has not appeared in any games this season. She appeared in 30 games last year as a freshman and averaged 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. She was the fourth-ranked recruit in the Class of 2022 by ESPN, and the No.1 wing player, as well as a McDonald’s, SLAM and Jordan Brand All-American after averaging 25.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game at Homestead High. She was Indiana’s Miss Basketball in 2022.

“We’ll support ‘Yanna through her rehab process and we anticipate she’ll make a full recovery,” Auriemma said. “We look forward to having her back with the team on the court.”

With No. 24 UNC on the horizon, @UConnWBB spoke to the media on Friday, with the team trying to keep their heads up after a rough start.

With Ayanna Patterson now doubtful to return this season, it doesn't get any easier for the Huskies.

: @_samcalhoun
: Noah Keaten pic.twitter.com/MG59UVpHr5

— UCTV Sports (@UCTVSports) December 9, 2023

Patterson’s is the third season-ending injury the Huskies (6-3) have sustained, including freshman Jana El Alfy, who tore her Achilles during the summer, and Azzi Fudd, who tore her ACL in practice early in the season. Another player, junior Caroline Ducharme, has been out since early November with head and neck issues, and there is no timetable for her return.

UConn will have 10 scholarship players going forward, and is particularly thin in the front court, with El Alfy, Patterson and Ducharme unavailable. The 17th-ranked Huskies will play No. 18 Louisville at the XL Center on Saturday at noon.