The Duke women’s basketball team opens its 2024-25 season on Monday morning against Radford, but shortly before the game began, the Blue Devils shared some injury news about a new member of the squad.
Riley Nelson, a former five-star prospect who transferred into the program from Maryland this offseason, will medically redshirt as she recovers from a knee injury. Duke said she sustained the injury with the Terrapins last season.
Nelson announced her commitment to the Blue Devils in April after she averaged 5.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 16 games during her freshman season at Maryland. She finished the Class of 2023 recruiting cycle as the No. 18 recruit in the HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings from espnW.
Nelson isn’t the first Duke women’s basketball newcomer to miss (at least most of) the 2024-25 season. Five-star freshman Arianna Roberson will miss the entire year after she injured her knee during the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup.