Oregon women’s basketball center Sedona Prince to have season-ending surgery, leaving UO to pursue professional career

Oregon center Sedona Prince, a preseason all-Pac-12 selection, suffered a torn ligament in her left elbow that will require season-ending surgery. The fifth-year redshirt-junior, who graduated from UO in May, has chosen to leave school and will pursue a professional basketball career following her surgery next month, the school announced.

Prince will be honored prior to Oregon’s exhibition against Carroll College at 6 p.m. tonight at Matthew Knight Arena.

“We are going to miss Sedona,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves said in a statement. “She has done so many wonderful things and has been an incredible representative of our program and the University. Her impact on collegiate athletics, especially in the area of gender equity, has been immense and will be felt for generations to come. I wish her only the best in all of her future endeavors. I cannot wait to see the ways she will continue to positively impact and change our world. Once a Duck, always a Duck.”

The 6-foot-7 Prince shot 54.2% from the field, fourth in the Pac-12, while averaging 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks last season.

In her three years at UO, Prince appeared in 50 games with 28 starts and shot 54.3% from the field and 76.6% from the free throw line. She averaged 9.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

“I’m heartbroken,” Prince said in a statement. “I truly felt that this was the year I could showcase my work ethic and skills on the court, but also my self-growth and leadership ability. I tried to push through the injury and be there for my team, but after extensive evaluation from the best doctors in the world and looking deep inside myself at my passions and goals, I know that I have to take care my elbow now in order to ensure long-term health and a sustained professional career. As an elite athlete, current entrepreneur, and future wave maker I pride myself on creating and continuing to drive impact in everything I do. Not being able to play with my teammates this year is painful and tragic for me. However, I’m so grateful for the entire community of Eugene for their continued support and inspiration to always push forward through adversity. After all, pressure is a privilege.

“I will always love this challenging program and its ability hold me accountable and to always elevate my game. The Eugene community took this Texas girl in immediately and made me feel like family. I will forever cherish the relationships and experiences I have made here on this journey.”

Prince, who is from Liberty Hill, Texas, began her career at Texas in 2018-19 and redshirted while recovering a broken right leg she suffered while playing for the USA U18 national team. She transferred to UO and was forced to sit out the 2019-20 season after being denied immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

She is a party in a federal lawsuit against the NCAA regarding name, image and likeness rights and compensation.