No. 7 Maryland women’s basketball guard Kaylene Smikle will undergo season-ending knee surgery, she announced on her Instagram on Sunday.
Smikle missed the first three games of Maryland’s season with a knee injury that she had been dealing with since the preseason.
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She had played in the last seven games for the Terps, averaging 13.1 points per game before shutting herself down for the season.
Last season, Smikle led the Terps with 18.2 points per game, and was named All-Big Ten first team by the media and All-Big Ten second team by coaches.
“I have been fighting through an injury and playing through some pain since preseason. After a lot of prayer and many conversations with my family, coaches and medical staff, I have decided to undergo knee surgery that will end my season,” Smikle said in her announcement.
Maryland started 10-0 on the season, and Smikle was expected to be one of its most impactful contributors.
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This is the second season-ending injury Smikle has faced in her collegiate career. In her sophomore season at Rutgers, she did not see the floor after December. After that injury, she opted to transfer to Maryland.
“This is not goodbye, see you next season,” Smikle said at the end of her statement.
Smikle is the third Terp to be shut down this season with a knee injury, alongside Lea Bartelme and Ava McKennie, who tore their ACLs. Maryland is still awaiting the return of Bri McDaniel from an ACL tear last season.
