Oregon announced on Thursday that guard Megan Trinder has suffered her second knee injury in as many years.
Trinder tore her ACL before the 2015-16 season and suffered another ACL tear to the same knee during Wednesday’s practice.
She will miss the remainder of the season.
Trinder traveled with the team to Los Angeles on Thursday as her mother and stepfather are in the United States on a three-week trip.
“We are so sad to see Megan injured again,” head coach Kelly Graves said in a news release. “She has played really well this season and we will need other people to step up at the point guard position. Megan is also such a great teammate and leader, we will miss her in that regard as well.
“Megan worked incredibly hard to overcome her injury last year and I have no doubt that she will do it again.”
Trinder’s injury came during work on defensive sets. Unlike her last ACL tear, which progressed over time, she knew instantly after she heard a pop.
“She knows that we all love her but of course it’s heartbreaking,” Shellie Trinder said. “She’s just starting to get her feet back in the team and working hard. … All her teammates are by her side. The coaches are right there too. Everyone is being positive and helping her mentally.”
Shellie indicated that she doubts that her daughter will stop playing after the rehabilitation.
“She’s never quit in her life,” Shellie said.
Take nothing for granted. Ever.
— Megan Trinder (@megsietrinder) January 12, 2017
During an interview last August, Trinder said she learned about the game during her redshirt season. She also realized she’d have a chance to play another year with Oregon’s No. 3-ranked 2016 recruiting class. Through a setback, Trinder found a silver lining.
“Obviously sitting out was no fun at all, but it made me learn more about the game than if I was playing like normal,” Trinder said.
Trinder appeared in all 15 games for the Ducks this season and started three. She ends the season averaging 3.1 points and 15.5 minutes. She tallied 47 total assists and posted a career-high of nine points vs. Lamar.
Oregon is now without two guards from the season opener. Freshman Jayde Woods transferred last month.
The Gold Coast, Australia, native will be a senior at Oregon next year.
During her first ACL recovery, Trinder kept in mind that “everything happens for a reason.” Shellie said she’s found it difficult to comprehend her daughter’s second ACL tear in 18 months.
“We’ve always had that [mindset] in our lives but we’re finding it hard to see why it would happen twice for a reason,” Shellie said. “We just need to get over the hurt. We’ll understand it a bit more then.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne
