Golden Nuggets: Women's Basketball Loses Freshman Tierra Rodgers

Freshman basketball player Tierra Rodgers is medically ineligible to play after being diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia.  Her career at Cal is in doubt...

Rogers' prospects for playing competitive basketball at all in the future seem slim, given the facts stated on Cal's news release about the severity of her heart condition. A defibrillator was implanted Thursday at UCSF Medical Center, and further steps will be taken to reduce her risks of cardiac arrest.

"This is obviously devastating news for Tierra and her family," Cal coach Joanne Boyle said in a statement. "We are here to stand by her 100 percent with whatever she needs."

According to Cal, Rogers had trouble breathing during a Bears practice at Haas Pavilion on Sept. 21. Shortly thereafter, while under the care of Cal medical personnel, she collapsed and 911 was called. She went to Alta Bates Medical Center by ambulance and spent a week there for testing and observation.

Rogers was moved to UC San Francisco's hospital early this week and diagnosed with a form of heart disease - arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. In the surgery Thursday, a defibrillator was implanted to help manage the condition.

"I am saddened that I was diagnosed with this disease," Rogers said in the Cal press release. "But I feel God has given me a second chance at life. With the support of my family, coaching staff and teammates, I will be able to get through this."

The Cal release cited the medical director of Cal's University Health Services, Dr. Brad Buchman. According to him, Rogers' condition is rare but is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in young adult athletes, the news release said.

Activity restriction is one of the ways to reduce the risks for Rogers, according to Buchman.

 

After the jump we'll see how USC plans to stop Best, why this is Cal's last chance this season to have hope for the Rose Bowl, Ted Miller's interview with Tedford, updates from practice, an article on the new second-string quarterback, Beau Sweeney, and more.

• Daily Cal on why Cal has yet to prove it can beat a team like USC.  If Cal is to have any hope of reaching the Rose Bowl, they must win Saturday's game.
• No surprise: USC's defensive plan is to stop Best early and often.
• Ted Miller interviews Tedford about moving on from Oregon and focusing on USC.
• Matt Summers-Gavin will miss this weekend's game with a sprained shoulder.  Besides that, the Bears seemed to be in good spirits at Thursday's practice.
• Hill is happy to have worked his way into the starting lineup.  Even though Hagan's knee is improving, he will not regain his spot at the top of the depth chart until he improves his technique.
• Sweeney seems unfazed at the prospect of entering the game should Riley get hurt.
• After writing that epic column to kick our asses back into shape for the Trojans, Michael Silver profiles the Monday Night Favre-Rodgers matchup. Acme Packing Company breaks down the game.