PLAYING THROUGH THE PAIN.

The current form of women's basketball puts a lot of stress on players' knees, enough so that teams engage medical specialists to keep injuries from happening in the first place.  Sometimes, injuries recur, and it's been particularly tough for Northern Illinois's Janae Poisson.

Poisson had the first surgery on her left knee on Dec. 18, 2017. She battled all the way back, but four games into the next season, she reinjured the knee at practice.

Another redshirt season. More pain. More frustration.

Yet, more determination.

Poisson had another surgery and rehabbed once again. When she returned to the court for the 2019-20 season, she began developing pain in her right knee.

Her coaches encouraged her to stay the course. She stayed the course, and developed perspective.

And those knee injuries? No hard feelings. If nothing else, she’ll thank them for the enlightenment.

“I never knew what it was like to sit on the bench for any reason,” Poisson said. “I didn’t know how to be grateful for the things I was able to do.

“Just small stuff like being able to go up and down stairs without being in pain. Or being able to go on road trips with your team. It’s really simple stuff that I’m grateful for now. Even after losses, I feel grateful.

“Overall, I’m very blessed.”

Thus far, touch wood, the team hasn't had to close practice thanks to the Wuhan coronavirus, although they have missed or postponed games when other teams weren't so fortunate.  It's a shame there won't be spectators this year, as there are several resilient kids back in uniform this year.