Geno Says Hartley Could Miss Opener With Ankle Injury

UConn announced Thursday that junior guard Bria Hartley will out “indefinitely” in an attempt to heal her sprained left ankle.

And that includes UConn’s season opener Nov. 11 against the College of Charleston.

“That’s what happens when you are stubborn,” Geno Auriemma said. “She could have been back a lot sooner, but she never gives on that she’s hurting. She wants to play. Now instead of working her way back in, she’ll be spending the two weeks she tried to prove how tough she is probably sitting out. And as far as I am concerned, I don’t care if she’s out until January. I just want her 100 percent, to the point we’re not worried about it for the remainder of the season.”

Hartley, a WBCA All-American last season and Big East preseason first-team performer this season, suffered a medial sprain of her left ankle playing for USA Basketball’s first 3×3 team this August in Greece.

“If she comes back next week, she comes back,” Auriemma said. “If she comes back next month, it’s next month. When she does play, it will  be because she is 100 percent. I don’t want to deal with this the entire year. With me, if it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse.”

She has not been able to put much pressure on the foot since and has been walking around campus with a boot on her foot. She had a cortisone injection Oct. 23 in hope in would alleviate the pain.