STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn’s guard, Caroline Ducharme, will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to persistent head and neck problems, as announced by the school on Tuesday.
Ducharme, a junior and a starter at the season’s commencement, becomes the fifth member of the No. 8 Huskies to be ruled out for the season due to health-related concerns.
The list of setbacks includes freshman forward Jana El Alfy, who suffered a preseason Achilles tendon injury; junior guard Azzi Fudd, whose season ended with a knee injury in November; senior forward Aubrey Griffin, facing a similar fate with a knee injury earlier this month, and post player Ayanna Patterson, who underwent knee surgery in December.
Ducharme, who has dealt with concussion and neck issues throughout her career, expressed her frustration with the ongoing challenges. She missed four games as a freshman and 17 last year. In the current season, she played just four games, averaging four points and two rebounds per game.
“It has honestly been a frustrating process with many ups and downs,” Ducharme said in a statement. “At this time, the difficult decision was made to take a step back and not play the remainder of the 2023-24 season so I can focus on my recovery full time.”
The series of injuries have left the Huskies (16-3, 8-0 Big East) with only nine available players for their upcoming game against Marquette (15-3, 4-3).
Despite the setback, Ducharme remains optimistic about her return to the court. “I’m always supporting my team and I can’t wait to rejoin them on the court next season,” she said.
