Tennessee women’s basketball star Tamari Key is out for the remainder of the season after physicians discovered blood clots in her lungs during testing, head coach Kellie Harper announced Thursday.
Key missed Tennessee’s win over UTC Monday— the first game the Cary, North Carolina native has missed in her Tennessee career.
“My sole concern right now is that Tamari continues to get the medical care and guidance she needs and begins the gradual process of healing and returning to full strength,” Harper said. “This is much bigger than basketball. We are so grateful that this medical condition was caught. Our entire program will be right beside Tamari during this process and welcomes prayers and positive thoughts from Lady Vol Nation and beyond.”
Key has been a staple of Harper’s Tennessee program in recent years due to her defensive prowess. The 6-foot-6 center is the Lady Vols’ all time block leader and is one of the best rim protectors in women’s college basketball. Key tallied 86 blocks as a freshman, 72 as a sophomore and a staggering 119 a season ago.
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The senior center was off to a slightly slower than expected start to her senior season, averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Key’s season ending medical concern is a scary situation. The fourth year Lady Vols’ future health is the main concern for Harper and the rest of the Tennessee’s women’s basketball program.
While the 2022-23 season is Key’s senior year, the talented veteran has at least one more year of eligibility due to COVID-19 eligibility relief granted to all players during the 2020-21 season.
Tennessee is off to a disappointing 5-5 start to the season after landing in the preseason top five. Three of the Lady Vols losses have come against ranked foes with the other two coming against solid UCLA and Gonzaga programs.
Key’s season ending medical condition is another blow to a Tennessee program that’s dealt with injuries and absences frequently over the last two seasons.
The Lady Vols return to the court Sunday at 2 p.m. ET against Wright State. The SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
