"With injuries mounting in women’s programs, experts note there are number of factors in play, including the specialization of sports at a younger age, and longer recovery times contributing to those thin benches.
Whatever the reasons, the search for solutions is always on.
At UConn, just two players have been available for every game. Coaches have burned sage in the locker room, brought holy water to practice and had Native American dancers perform healing rituals."
"kids are specializing in one sport earlier and playing that sport year-round. They’re not getting a chance to rest their bodies,” she said. “You’re putting the same amount of mileage on the same body parts, over and over again.
So, now you get these kids who are in college, but their bodies are such that it’s almost like they’ve been playing professional ball for 10 years because that’s all they’ve been doing.
Auriemma said coaches have already cut back on the length, number and intensity of practices on the advice of medical staff, sometimes to the detriment of play. "
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/national/story/2023-01-18/just-weird-rash-of-injuries-hits-womens-college-hoops
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I'm sure there are a number of factors contributing to the problem, and Zack may not be the guy going forward.
But another issue might be Vic's "I'll rest when I'm dead" and saying people make too much of playing an athlete 40 minutes a game.
Not saying it's Vic's fault, just that I think women's sports are intensifying, and we may be learning that how we treat female athletes should be different than how we treat men.
Load management may be found to be more important in women's sports, due to a difference in body conformation.