Here's what we know about Wisconsin volleyball superstar's injury with Team USA (2024)

University of Wisconsin volleyball star Sarah Franklin was a game-changer while playing for USA Volleyball.

But unfortunately for her and her American teammates, she went up for a block with middle blocker Sophie Fischer, got a hand on the ball, but fell awkwardly and immediately grabbed her left ankle. The U.S. took a 14-13 lead over the Dominican Republic in the third set on the previous play, Franklin's ninth and final kill, in the NORCECA Pan Am Cup gold medal match. She did walk off on her own, however. But the D.R. won the fifth set 15-11 to end an undefeated run by the U.S., which entered the match 3-0.

Franklin returned home from the event, hosted in the Dominican Republic, on Monday and was scheduled for further evaluation Tuesday. But coach Kelly Sheffield said there is cautious optimism that the reigning college national player of the year avoided a serious injury.

She had a great tournament up until the injury. She scored a point as a substitute in the opening sweep against Mexico before a breakout performance with 10 kills (.625 hitting percentage), one block, one ace, nine receptions and six digs in a sweep of Canada. She had 13 kills (.458) and two blocks in the semifinal win over Puerto Rico.

Franklin enters her fifth season, and third with the Badgers after transferring from Michigan State, looking to elevate Wisconsin back to a national championship. Wisconsin lost to eventual champion Texas in a national semifinal in December, a return to the Final Four for the Badgers after a year away.

Franklin dealt with blood clots last summer, which caused her to miss Wisconsin's European tour. She was diagnosed with quadrilateral space syndrome, a rare affliction that was the best-case scenario as she was able to recover and go on a historic campaign in which she became the second Badgers athlete to win national player of the year after Dana Rettke accomplished the feat.

Next up is the elusive-to-Franklin national championship, which Rettke won in 2021 with the Badgers. Wisconsin figures to have a formidable team to reach the Final Four for a fifth time in six seasons.

Wisconsin was the best blocking team in the country last season and returns middles Carter Booth and Caroline Crawford. Booth, who also played on Team USA, was fourth nationally at 1.56 blocks per set while the Badgers were at 3.07. Right-side/middle Anna Smrek, Devyn Robinson, outside/libero Julia Orzol and defensive specialist Gulce Guctekin all return.

The Badgers open a tough nonconference schedule at the arena where they hope to end it when they play at Louisville's KFC Yum! Center as part of the AVCA First Serve Showcase. They also have a rematch with Texas and matches against Stanford, TCU, Baylor and Marquette before league play.

Dennis Punzel contributed to this report.