Indiana Women’s Basketball: Mackenzie Holmes expected to miss entire 2024 WNBA season following knee surgery

Indiana women’s basketball star Mackenzie Holmes will have to wait slightly longer to make her WNBA debut. On Wednesday, she announced that she will be undergoing knee surgery that will sideline her for the 2024 WNBA season.

“As many of you know during my time as a Hoosier my career was interrupted multiple times due to a reoccurring issue with my knee,” Holmes said in a social media post. “That has been present since my 9th grade year in High School. My major focus at these times was to get back on the court as quickly as possible to be with my teammates and help our team succeed. While the entire medical staff at IU was wonderful in doing everything to rehabilitate and prevent the injury, all while getting me back on the court safely, I never took the steps to correct the problem and the damage it caused.

“However, at this time to ensure my body is healthy and my playing career is as long and successful as possible, I have decided to get the necessary surgery in May to prevent further issues and alleviate the pain it has caused. I have declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft and pray that a team honors me with a selection knowing I will be ready for the start of the 2025 Training Camp. Your support, thoughts, and prayers at this time are appreciated.”

More: The greatest to ever do it — Mackenzie Holmes reflects on her Indiana women’s basketball career: ‘I love being a Hoosier’

Holmes will undergo surgery to repair issues with her left knee that caused her to miss time in each of the last three years at Indiana. This year Holmes injured her knee late in the regular season finale. Last year, Holmes entered the NCAA Tournament with an aggravated injury that limited her production and ultimately was a reason for IU’s Round of 32 loss to Miami.

“I’m feeling much different than I was last March versus this March,” Holmes said heading into postseason play this year. “I think I practiced once or twice leading up to the Miami game (in the Round of 32) after the Big Ten Tournament. I’m now in practices, doing pretty much everything. So I’m feeling a lot better this March than last March, which is a great thing for me.”

Two year ago, Holmes missed a month of Big Ten play after surgery to the knee sidelined her.

Holmes ended her Indiana women’s basketball career as the program’s all-time winningest player and all-time scoring leader. She was also a multi-year All-American.

In 147 career games, Holmes averaged 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and shot 63.9 percent from the floor.

The 2024 WNBA Draft will take place on April 15 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPN. The season begins May 14.

SEE ALSO: Indiana women’s basketball among programs ‘in the early mix’ for top transfer target

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