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The SEC Tournament is delivering thrilling matchups in women's college basketball, and Saturday's semifinals in Greenville were no exception. The first game saw No. 5 South Carolina take down No. 10 Oklahoma to secure a spot in the championship.
Then, in a hard-fought second semifinal, No. 9 LSU and No. 1 Texas battled in a gritty, defensive showdown.
Ultimately, Texas prevailed with a 56-49 victory, setting up a much-anticipated title game rematch with South Carolina on Sunday. However, for LSU, the bigger concern moving forward isn't just the loss-it's the health of their star players as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament.
LSU's injuries raise concerns
LSU had already entered Saturday's game short-handed, with star guard Flau'jae Johnson sitting out due to shin inflammation. Head coach Kim Mulkey had assured fans that Johnson was expected to return for the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers' injury woes worsened during the semifinal.
Midway through the game, First-Team All-SEC forward Aneesah Morrow suffered an injury and was forced to leave for the locker room. She later returned to the bench wearing a walking boot on her left foot, as reported by Cory Diaz of USA Today.
Morrow did not return to the game, a significant blow to LSU's chances of closing out Texas in the final minutes. Without her dominant presence inside, the Longhorns took advantage, pulling away late to secure the seven-point victory.
Adding to LSU's struggles, freshman standout Mikaylah Williams spent most of the game battling foul trouble, limiting her effectiveness. With three of LSU's top scorers-Morrow, Johnson, and Williams-either injured or restricted, the Tigers struggled to generate enough offense to keep pace with Texas.
The good news for LSU is that they now have nearly two weeks off before their first NCAA Tournament game. This gives Johnson and Morrow time to recover, but their health will remain a major storyline heading into March Madness.