María Conde isn't sure when she'll be able to return to basketball, the star forward said in a lengthy caption posted on Instagram Tuesday (which also happens to be her birthday). Conde tore her Achilles last week.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I'm sad," a translation of Conde's message reads on Instagram. "These have been a few complicated days in which everything has happened so fast that I still have a hard time locating where I am. I cry every now and then, I get emotional with every message I receive, and I have a hard time wrapping my head around everything that's coming next."
Conde added that despite all the turmoil and uncertainty that comes with a season-ending injury, she is still surrounded by love and support. She thanked her parents, "who always appear with a smile from ear to ear and ready for anything," as well as "a network of wonderful people who support me and weave together even more tightly when I'm stumbling."
She also explained that the prospect of playing basketball again is "very far away." Conde continued, "Until then, I am going to enjoy all the moments when, normally, I can't be there, and stick like glue to all the people I love so that at the end of this process, they are the ones who are tired of me."
Tough blow for Maria Conde. Return to play for an Achilles rupture can land between 9-12 months. https://t.co/Ndit8QZtV6
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) January 15, 2025
Recovery from a torn Achilles is a lengthy process, and it's possible Conde won't be back on the court for 9 to 12 months according to Dr. Nirav Pandya, Professor of UCSF Orthopedic Surgery and Director of Sports Med, Benioff Children's Hospital. Pandya tweeted on X, formerly Twitter, "Tough blow for Maria Conde. Return to play for an Achilles rupture can land between 9-12 months."
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Conde's injury soon after it happened. Conde was seen limpingto the locker room with the assistance of her coaches after the fall. Shereturned to the bench in a wheelchair and was greeted by both her teammates and applauding fans.
Conde came down from a shot and appeared to land hard on her leg. There is speculation that she could have torn her Achilles, though no official confirmation has been shared publicly. Her agent Lluis Tunez told the Chronicle the injury seems to be "season-ending," and the Valkyries said in a statement to the newspaper, "We are in close contact with Maria, her agent and her medical team as she undergoes further evaluation."