Tennessee Lady Vols Star Izzy Harrison Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury Against Kentucky
Tennessee’s sixth-ranked Lady Vols suffered a major blow Sunday when their leading scorer and rebounder, Izzy Harrison, tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee during a 72-58 win over No. 11 Kentucky. At the time, the Wildcats were ranked 10th in the nation. Head coach Holly Warlick confirmed the severity of Harrison’s injury Monday.
“I still want to be there for my team,” Harrison said in a statement released by the university. “This season is not over, and I know my teammates will use this as motivation to pursue the ultimate goal. I will continue to get healthy, and I appreciate all the wishes and support I’ve received during this time.”
The injury occurred early in the second half as Harrison battled for an offensive rebound. She remained on the court for several minutes before being carried off in a wheelchair. Players from both Tennessee and Kentucky offered their support as she left the floor.
The 6-foot-3 senior had been wearing a knee brace since spraining the same knee in Tennessee’s season opener, an injury that caused her to miss five games. She also missed 10 games during her sophomore season due to prior knee and ankle injuries.
When healthy, Harrison has been one of the SEC’s top performers. This season, she averaged 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, following a season in which she earned first-team All-SEC honors and was named SEC Tournament MVP.
Coach Warlick expressed her sadness over the injury, praising Harrison’s leadership and character. “My heart goes out to Izzy, because I know how hard she has worked to become the player she is,” Warlick said. “She’s meant so much to our program and embodies everything I want a Lady Vol to be. She will continue to contribute valuable leadership for the remainder of the season.”
Harrison’s injury compounds the Lady Vols’ ongoing health challenges. Junior forward Jasmine Jones has been sidelined since Dec. 20 with concussion symptoms, while sophomore guard Jordan Reynolds left Sunday’s game after two minutes due to dizziness. Center Mercedes Russell was redshirting this season following offseason foot surgeries.
Despite these setbacks, Tennessee remains 22-3 overall and 12-0 in SEC play, tied with No. 2 South Carolina. Senior forward Cierra Burdick emphasized the team’s resilience after the game. “We’ve faced adversity before this season,” Burdick said. “We’ve taken some blows, and we continue to get up. We’ve got to play tough, play hard, and play for our injured sisters. This is what will make us stronger as a team.”
Fans and teammates alike are hoping for a strong recovery for Harrison as she begins her rehabilitation from what is expected to be a season-ending injury.
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