Isabel Harrison Takes a Significant Step in Her Recovery

For over a year, Isabel Harrison has been wearing a bulky brace on her left knee. This brace served as a constant reminder of her surgically repaired, torn meniscus that kept her sidelined for the entire 2023 season.

“I hated seeing it,” she shared on Monday. “I really didn’t like seeing it in pictures. I just didn’t want to post any of that on social media—it was really tough.”

Last season, Harrison wasn’t at her best. Even with a seemingly limitless offseason, she mentioned working hard to regain her full strength.

Two weeks ago, however, she decided it was time to take a meaningful step in her healing process. She felt physically and mentally stronger than she had in years, so she ditched the brace.

For Harrison, this felt like both a sign of progress and a demonstration of strength.

“I took a leap of faith,” she explained. “It was physical, but also a spiritual move for me. I missed playing a year ago and didn’t want to risk further injury. But now I’ve been in a really good program focusing on my weight.”

Yet, the decision to remove the brace was a bit nerve-wracking. “I won’t lie; it was scary. When I went to rebound, I felt hesitant about going left.”

Harrison has come to terms with the fact that she may not return to the player she was before her knee injury. Her focus has shifted to embracing the freedom she craves on the court.

The initial weeks of training camp have been somewhat overwhelming for her. Freedom, in terms of movement, can be a bit chaotic.

She had never played in a five-out scheme before, which meant she had to learn the dynamics of her new teammates. Still, she feels more comfortable being challenged daily by them.

“It’s like a light bulb moment,” Harrison said. “As soon as you grasp it, you know where you should be. Every day, it feels like we’re complicating things more and more, but we’re building chemistry. I’ve always enjoyed the game—playing without fixed positions allows you to be dynamic on the floor.”

Harrison stepped up significantly when Jonquel Jones collapsed due to an injury during Thursday’s game.

As Nyara Sabally and Leonie Fiebich prepare to leave for Eurobasket later this month, she will play a crucial role for the team.

Harrison has earned the trust of both her teammates and coaches, demonstrating her commitment to doing whatever it takes to secure victories.