A'ja Wilson sustained an ankle injury a few seconds before the end of a match in January. The South Carolina women’s basketball star had to be helped from the court. “Just a sprain. She just stepped on somebody’s foot,” her coach said later. And a teammate added after she met her in the locker room: “She’s happy-go-lucky as always.” The 22-year-old got a cast and was not in a regular match for nearly two months.

In January one year ago, she also injured her right ankle in a match. First, she had a pink cast as well, later an orthesis.