The redshirt sophomore can’t catch a break on the injury front.
UConn redshirt sophomore forward Ayanna Patterson is expected to undergo surgery on her left shoulder after re-injuring it in practice last week, Geno Auriemma revealed on his radio show on Thursday.
“That poor kid can’t catch a break,” he said. “She’s been trying to play through that shoulder problem that she has… There’s been an operation in her future, for sure.”
Patterson has not yet played this season but had begun warming up with the team before games. She then suffered a setback in practice between UConn’s two games in The Bahamas and had to wear an immobilization sling again. Patterson also missed the entire 2023-24 campaign with knee tendinitis that required surgery in December.
Listed at 6-2 with a physical frame and no shortage of athleticism, the Fort Wayne, Indiana native was the No. 4 prospect in the class of 2022 but has struggled to get on the court due to various ailments. The Huskies aren’t giving up on her, though.
“She’s such a difference maker when she’s on the court at practice because we don’t have anybody like her,” Auriemma said. “None of our other post players are like her.”
As for Aubrey Griffin, she’s still on track to return from a torn ACL before the new year.
“That’s the plan, that’s the schedule that she’s on,” Auriemma said.
Griffin seems to be progressing well, too.
“She’s playing in a lot of simulated games with our practice players, very controlled. But the other day, it was like a real game, no holds barred. It didn’t take long — and it’s only about 20 minutes or so — but she looked like her old self more than at any other time since the surgery.”