For All-American center Maggie Weiers, the routine start to the season has taken an unexpected detour with a season-ending injury.

Weiers tore her Lisfranc ligament in the top of her foot in the St. Thomas women’s basketball team’s second game of the season against Millikin (Ill.) Nov. 17.

“I’m trying to be as optimistic as I can be,” Weiers said. “At first, it was really hard to look at it positively, but I think now that I’ve gotten to terms with what happened, it’s really awesome to watch my team play.”

Weiers’ X-ray results revealed the ligament was torn and that surgery was necessary. After having a plate and four screws put in, she began her journey to recovery.

Coach Ruth Sinn said there’s is a small chance Weiers could return this season.

“As far as recovery is concerned, it’s a pretty major ligament,” Sinn said. “They’re saying it’s usually about three months.”

The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the fourth-ranked Tommies. In the midst of another strong season (6-1, 4-0), the team will look to its youth to fill the big shoes.

“At first, it was really hard for everyone,” Sinn said. “When you bring your team together, you build a culture, a family connection with the members of the team.”

Although Weiers was a starter, Sinn said the team needs everyone to make a collective effort and change how they approach the game with a new style.

“We need to re-route our thinking, and we need to start looking toward ‘What are we going to do next?’ and ‘What do we have control over?’” Sinn said. “We don’t need everyone to do more, we just need everyone to bring what they can bring.”

Guard Jenna Dockter said Weiers will be hard to replace.

“Maggie was obviously a huge part of our team,” Dockter said. “She has huge effects on our team whether she’s on the floor or not.”

With a new role, Weiers said she enjoys being able to share her knowledge of the game with her teammates when she can.

“I think before I was a leader more so on the court than off, and I preferred to lead by action,” Weiers said. “I think this has helped me and helped the team … where I can almost act a coach on the bench rather than helping them on the court.”

Dockter said she can relate to Weiers’ situation, as she sat out half of last season for an injury.

“I feel so bad to watch her go through this,” Dockter said. “As a teammate, (I’m) just making sure I’m there to support.”

Despite Weiers not being able to play for the season, Sinn said she will come back stronger than ever when given the all-clear to play.

“She wants this not for her own good, but for her team as well,” Sinn said.

Weiers is looking forward to being able to get back into the game, but said she knows the team will be successful regardless of who is on the court.

“I think that we’ll continue with our winning and our success because of the hard work and teamwork that we have,” Weiers said.

Sean Crotty can be reached at crot0230@stthomas.edu.