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Injuries happen in every sport.
But the TCU women’s basketball program has officially DEFCON 1 when it comes to their injury crisis.
The Horned Frogs announced Wednesday that they would forfeit a pair of Big 12 games (aganst Iowa State and Kansas State) due to a shortage of available players.
TCU's Women's Basketball games vs K-State and Iowa State have been cancelled due to injuries within the program and in the interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes.
Fans who purchased tickets to Wednesday's game against Kansas State may exchange them for tickets… pic.twitter.com/CtprVBkDLo
— TCU Athletics (@TCU_Athletics) January 17, 2024
“The cancellations are a result of injuries within the TCU program and ensure the health and safety of the program’s student-athletes,” the team said in a press release. “Both contests will count as a forfeit for TCU in accordance with Big 12 rules. The games will not be made up. The forfeits will only impact the Horned Frogs’ Big 12 win-loss record.
“Fans who purchased tickets to Wednesday’s game against Kansas State may exchange them for tickets to any remaining home game based on availability. No refunds will be issued.”
How bad have things gotten for the Horned Frogs? They recently announced open tryouts in search of players in order to continue the season.
TCU women’s basketball will hold open tryouts on Thursday and Friday for full-time students interested in walking-on for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Please see the information below or contact Jessie Craig (JESSIE.CRAIG@tcu.edu) for additional details. #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/pQV2SvYnBm
— TCU Women’s Basketball (@tcuwbb) January 17, 2024
How this happens at a program the size of TCU is anyone’s guess. Sure, injuries happen. But the Horned Frogs have a full allotment of scholarship players plus several walk-ons.
Unless a bus accidentally crashed through the practice facility, it’s hard to imagine they can’t find eight healthy bodies to safely play a couple of games, right?
Star center Sedona Prince has been out since suffering a broken finger against Baylor on Jan. 3. And graduate senior guard Jaden Owens shared that she suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in a non-contact injury during a Jan. 13 game against Houston.
But that’s still just two players.
TCU began the season with a 14-0 record, but has lost each of its last four games.
Fans were extremely skeptical of the decision to forfeit.
I have never seen this at a P5 school aside from the pandemic. Damn, TCU. This is a bad look. You get 15 scholarships plus walk-ons. You should be able to field a team.
And if you can't, these shouldn't be postponements. These are forfeits. https://t.co/QAOvY8pSdn
— Tim Fitzgerald 💙☘️🌾 (@LifeofFitz) January 17, 2024
https://twitter.com/SarahfromIA/status/1747781037483028779
https://twitter.com/SarahfromIA/status/1747781037483028779
A loss is a loss whether they play or forfeit. But it’s certainly not a good look for the Horned Frogs’ program.