Injury details & how it happened
Andrews, a 2026 commit to South Carolina, recently revealed via social media that she had suffered a serious knee injury: specifically, a torn meniscus and torn bone cartilage in her knee. (On3) She underwent surgery “last weekend” and is currently in recovery. (On3)
It’s worth noting this is not her first major knee injury: she previously tore her right ACL in 2022, then her left ACL in 2023. (On3) Given that history, this latest injury adds considerable risk and concern for her long-term durability.
How bad is it & what’s the impact on her season?
The combination of a meniscus tear plus torn bone cartilage is significant. According to her recruiting profile, “recovery time for meniscus surgery ranges from several weeks to as much as nine months.” (On3) Given her prior ACL injuries and now this, the timeline becomes somewhat uncertain.
Because of that, there are a few possible outcomes for her 2025-26 season:
- She may miss significant time, possibly the whole season, especially if complications arise or if rehab is conservative.
- Alternatively, she might be able to rehab through the season, and perhaps enroll early or mid-year at South Carolina, depending on her class status and the program’s plan. (She could potentially graduate early and join midseason to continue rehab while being around the team.) (On3)
- The program may choose to redshirt her (i.e., hold her out of competition for the year) so she can fully rehab and be stronger for the following season, particularly given her history of knee issues. Indeed, one analysis suggested that despite her physical gifts, her multiple knee injuries might make South Carolina consider a redshirt. (247Sports)
Given all that, the realistic assessment: her 2025-26 season is in jeopardy. While she may remain enrolled and be part of the team culture, her on-court availability is uncertain at best. The fact that the exact timetable “is not known” adds to the uncertainty. (On3)
What this means for the Gamecocks
For South Carolina, Andrews represented a high-value frontcourt addition — a 6′4″ forward/post player who can score inside and step out to hit threes. Her commitment had been hailed as a major reinforcement for the program. (ESPN.com) With her injury, the Gamecocks will need to adjust their future frontcourt strategy, perhaps rely more on returning players or other incoming recruits while managing Andrews’ recovery.
Bottom line
Kelsi Andrews’ knee injury is serious: torn meniscus + torn bone cartilage, on top of past ACL tears. While surgery was successful, the unclear recovery timeline and her injury history mean that her availability for the 2025-26 season is far from guaranteed. It’s likely that South Carolina will treat her return with caution, potentially planning for a longer rehab or redshirt year to ensure she returns healthy and fully capable rather than risk further setbacks.
If you like, I can check specific medical studies or historical cases of similar injuries to estimate more precisely when she might be able to play at full strength.
