Elizabeth Williams Returns to the Court Eyeing A 2025 Comeback
After a long road to recovery, Elizabeth Williams is back on the court.
The Chicago Sky center tore her meniscus in June 2024, which sidelined her for the remainder of the WNBA season. Now, she’s returning to competitive five-on-five action for the first time since the injury in the fourth season of AU Pro Basketball in Nashville.
Unlike what many might expect from an athlete after an injury, Williams maintained a positive perspective with the support of her family and friends.
“When I got hurt, I called my mom and she was like, ‘Why are you sad? This is just a blip in the radar; it’s just one thing.’ She really helped put it in perspective,” Williams said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be healthy for the majority of my career.”
Williams added, “I’ve spent a lot of time playing either in the W or in the Euroleague for the past 10 years, so I think for me, it was kind of nice to get a reset, even retraining my body… Knowing what I need, how much rest I need, and then gaining some strength back too – adjusting to different deficits that I might’ve had before and really couldn’t take care of – so I think overall, my recovery process was good.”
Though she’s still playing on minute restrictions, Williams has already made a strong impact in AU Pro Basketball, ranking fifth on the overall leaderboard through three weeks of play. She’s been one of the top draft picks each week and is appreciative of the trust her fellow teammates have placed in her.
“Sometimes you need those reminders of what you’re capable of, especially when you don’t know how you’re going to feel physically,” the veteran stated. “But it feels great to know you can bring value to whatever team you’re playing on. That’s pretty cool.”
With a decade of professional basketball experience, this stint at AU Pro Basketball provides her a rare opportunity to continue developing her game while staying stateside. Playing overseas often demands full participation, making this season in Nashville the ideal environment for her to ease back into competitive play at a controlled pace.
“I had opportunities to play overseas, but realistically, I’ve done overseas for a long time and you can tell them that you’re on a restriction, but it doesn’t fly,” Williams shared.
Many players have chosen to play in AU because of the opportunity to stay in the U.S. instead of dealing with the intense travel demands of playing abroad. For Williams, this was just as important.
“Having done all my rehab here [in D.C.] and having people that I can reach out to whenever I need to was a big part,” she explained. “One part [of choosing AU] was being stateside, another part of it was just playing competitive five-on-five basketball.”
“And I know that a lot of AU is just giving players whatever they need, so I think that the staff and everyone here has done a good job of making sure that we have what we need.”
Off the court, Williams has enjoyed her time in Nashville, where the fans have fully embraced women’s basketball. The city’s enthusiasm for the sport has only fueled her excitement for the future.
“I think the fans really appreciate having basketball here,” the 6’3 center said. “We sign autographs after every game and almost everyone we talk to is like, ‘Man, it’s so nice to have basketball here and we hope we can get a W team here.’ I love that we’re in a place that really embraces the women’s game.”
Looking ahead, Williams is focused on her return to the Chicago Sky for the 2025 season, where she’ll play under new head coach Tyler Marsh. With her recovery progressing and her confidence growing, she’s eager to bring her leadership and experience back to the WNBA.
“I’m really excited about Tyler,” Williams said. “I’ve had a couple of conversations with him and done some workouts with him when I went to Chicago a couple of weeks back; he’s great.”
“I think sometimes when people talk about developing players, they are thinking about young players, but I always think there’s still an opportunity for vets to continue to get better and I think he’s communicated that.”
As Williams continues her journey up the leaderboard in AU Pro Basketball, her resilience and determination are evident, paving the way for a strong return to the WNBA.
View this post on Instagram
Terrika Foster-Brasby is a women’s basketball analyst and former DII athlete, serving as a digital reporter for AU Pro Basketball. You can follow her on Instagram @sheknowssports_ & Twitter @sheknowssports.
Related Articles
