Tamari Key, a senior center basketball player for the Tennessee Lady Vols, has been sidelined for the season because of blood clots in her lungs.
Key was unable to play in the match on Tuesday against the Chattanooga Mocs due to “medical reasons,” said Kellie Harper, head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols.
The doctors discovered blood clots in her lungs during testing.
“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. This is much bigger than basketball,” Harper told ESPN.
“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,” she continued.
The 6-foot-6 player from Cary, North Carolina, is expected to make a full recovery, according to the statement released by the Lady Vols team. But she will not play the rest of the 2022-23 season.
“Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper shared on Thursday that senior center Tamari Key will miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season after physicians discovered blood clots in her lungs during testing,” Lady Vols said in a statement.
“Key, who missed her first-ever game as a Lady Vol vs.Chattanooga on Tuesday night, will continue to receive care under the guidance of the University of Tennessee Medical Center and Tennessee Athletics team physicians. She is expected to make a full recovery,” it concluded.
“While I am disappointed to see my season come to an end, I am grateful to have had this issue properly identified and diagnosed,” Key said in a statement. “| look forward to emerging from this setback stronger than ever!”
This is NOT normal.
