New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Juhász has wrist surgery, will return next year
UConn forward Dorka Juhász had surgery on her left wrist Wednesday, the school announced.
The school also said Juhász will return next year. Juhász, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, has another year of eligibility but she also could pursue a professional career.
Juhász fractured her left wrist in the first half of UConn’s Elite Eight victory over NC State Monday in Bridgeport. UConn coach Geno Auriemma said the injury was a fracture and dislocation.
According to UConn, recovery time from surgery is four months.
Juhász, a 6-foot-5 native of Pecs, Hungary, averaged 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 32 games during her first season at UConn. She was a two-time All-Big Ten player for Ohio State.
UConn is facing Stanford in the national semifinals Friday night in Minneapolis. The NCAA title game is Sunday.
“My heart feels loved and heartbroken at the same time,” Juhász said in a social media post. “It’s aching, because my season has come to an end, and I won’t be able to compete for a national championship with my sisters this weekend.”
Auriemma said UConn is trying to get Juhász to Minneapolis Friday “so she can be a part of this.” He said he spoke to her Wednesday and Thursday morning.
“She’s in that state where everything is fine, everything is happy and making nothing but happy talk,” he said. “But once it wears off this afternoon, it’s going to be a different Dorka.”
As for next season, Auriemma has said Juhász told him throughout the season that she was returning. Missing the Final Four may have solidified her decision.
“I think one big reason that she came to UConn was to try to experience something like this, and it was taken away from her this year, so I think she’s coming to hopefully be in the same situation but actually playing instead of watching,” Auriemma said. “It takes a little bit of time to get acclimated to our program. It’s a little bit different. Dorka started to figure it out pretty well, and I thought that the four minutes she played (Monday) night were some of the best four minutes that she’s played all year long, so it’s a shame.
“We can try to build on that, and obviously with (Olivia Nelson-Ododa) graduating and having a big hole there to fill, I think it’s huge for us, Dorka coming back.”