Carleton College, a Division III school in Northfield, Minnesota, has canceled the remainder of the 2023-24 season for its women’s basketball team after injuries took a heavy toll in the opening weeks.
The Knights began the year with ten players on their roster but injuries cut that number down to six in the days leading up to their season opener against North Central University on Nov. 11.
After canceling that game, the decision to cancel the rest of the season was announced on Friday “to adequately protect the health and safety of the remaining student-athletes on the team.”
“Obviously this was a very difficult decision, and one that is disappointing for everyone involved,” Carleton athletic director Gerald Young said in a statement on the school’s website. “However, the health and well-being of our student-athletes is paramount. Therefore, after consulting with our sports medicine staff, it became apparent this is in the players’ best interest.”
Young went on to say that the decision was also needed to provide clarity to the MIAC and non-conference opponents on the schedule.
“I am heartbroken for each of these women,” Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Fitzen said. “They have done everything they could to make this work, to sacrifice for their teammates. But the reality is that playing games two or three times a week simply was not sustainable with the number of healthy players who remained. As coaches, we are already focused on preparing our players for next season as they will be practicing as their health allows throughout the remainder of this season.”
The Knights went 8-16 last season with a 7-14 record in the MIAC and have two seniors on their roster, Jasmine Choi and Margie Clauss. By NCAA rule, all games on Carleton’s schedule will be declared “no contests.”
