INDIANAPOLIS — UConn guard Caroline Ducharme has endured a challenging journey lasting over 15 months as she recovered from a head injury. Her long-awaited return culminated during the final minutes of a decisive 86-47 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse, marking a historic moment as it was the inaugural sellout crowd for Butler women’s basketball.
“It has been a considerable wait,” stated coach Geno Auriemma after the fifth-ranked Huskies secured their fifth consecutive victory. “She’s faced many difficulties and I hoped she would be back soon, and everyone was thrilled.”
The excitement in the arena was palpable when Ducharme stepped onto the hardwood, donning a headband as the audience erupted in cheers. A teammate embraced her, highlighting the significance of the moment.
Following the game, Ducharme was unavailable for comments due to the throngs of Husky supporters outside the locker room, eager to see Paige Bueckers, prompting Auriemma to enter the post-game press conference through an alternate route.
For Ducharme, this event represented much more than a typical victory. Throughout her collegiate career, she had faced multiple head injuries that forced her to miss games, including five instances during UConn’s national runner-up campaign in the 2021-22 season. She participated in just 23 games the next year due to ongoing health issues.
After earning a starting position last season, Ducharme’s struggles resurfaced just four games in, leading her to rehab again. After two and a half months of effort to return, it was ultimately decided in mid-January to end her season, making her the fifth Husky sidelined with a season-ending injury.
“I have been working tirelessly with my medical team to fully return to basketball after experiencing head and neck injuries,” Ducharme mentioned in a statement last season. “It has been an undeniably frustrating path with many ups and downs. Therefore, the difficult choice was made to step back from the remainder of the 2023-24 season to fully focus on my recovery.”
As the current season progressed, her teammates achieved an impressive 25-3 record, on the verge of securing another outright title in the Big East regular-season. They aim to clinch it by overcoming No. 23 Creighton on their home court this Thursday night.
Now, Ducharme stands on the cusp of joining in the celebrations. Although she played only a brief two minutes on Saturday—recording one rebound and no points—this marks the beginning of her comeback. Her presence on the team could provide valuable depth as they prepare for the final games of the regular season, the Big East Tournament, and the forthcoming March Madness.
