Sacha Washington of Vanderbilt women’s basketball is out for the time being with a health issue, coach Shea Ralph said Thursday. She will not play in the season opener against Lipscomb.
Washington has been out for about a month. She has been able to participate in practice in a limited form, but she has not been cleared for contact. In the next few weeks, the team will get more clarity on her situation.
“She’s able to do everything non contact,” Ralph said. “So she’s practicing, she’s conditioning. This is not a basketball related health issue. She’s able to do everything on the court, so when they tell us that she can come back, she’ll be ready to go.”
Washington, a senior, has appeared in all 99 games the Commodores have played since the start of her freshman year in 2021. She started every game as a sophomore and junior. In 2023-24, she averaged 12.1 points per game and shot 52.6% from the field with 7.9 rebounds per game.
To replace Washington, Vanderbilt will turn to a combination of Khamil Pierre, Aiyana Mitchell and Trinity Wilson. Pierre, a sophomore, played alongside Washington at times last season. Though more of a true power forward, she can also play Washington’s center position. Pierre averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Mitchell appeared in 15 games in 2023-24 but saw just 3.9 minutes per game. Wilson is a freshman, but she has size at 6-foot-3.
Vanderbilt begins its season against Lipscomb on Monday (11 a.m. CT, SEC Network+) coming off an NCAA tournament appearance in 2024, its first in 10 years.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS Inside Vanderbilt women’s basketball roster including transfers, freshmen for 2024-25 season
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sacha Washington of Vanderbilt women’s basketball out with health issue
