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Wisconsin volleyball just got incredible injury news from Grace Egan and just in time

Guess who's back?
ByMark Knight
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Dec 18, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers outside hitter Grace Egan (32) hits the ball in a 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinal match at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images
Dec 18, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers outside hitter Grace Egan (32) hits the ball in a 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinal match at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wisconsin star hitter Grace Egan posted a video on Instagram of her bounding up the stairs and onto the court at the UW Field House with the message flying in: "I'm Back." This news is incredible in its own right, but it comes at the perfect time as Wisconsin is headed into the final stretch of the season. The news is surprising on one hand but not at all on the other.

Egan disappeared from the volleyball lineup from one game to another, and there were very few updates on what was happening. She finally posted on Instagram that she had a scary moment when she couldn't feel her legs. It seemed like something major was going on with her back, and the UW Medical team jumped right on it. The injury was scary enough that it seemed like it could be career-ending.

She wasn't even with the team for a while, and so that's part of why this news is surprising. However, it also wasn't overly surprising when you just take in the last couple of weeks. She started showing up at practices and sitting courtside at games. Then she posted a picture of herself with knee pads on, which was followed by her appearing on the bench in a uniform.

Grace Egan gives a much-needed boost to the team at just the right time

Related: First rankings reveal why Wisconsin volleyball deserves a No. 1 seed: It's justified

Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield was speaking optimistically about her and her recovery. It started to feel like the time was coming quickly that she could return, and even return this season. But was it days or weeks? Well, now the news has been posted that she's cleared to play. Huge news and something that will give the Badgers an immediate boost.

Her timing seems to indicate that she will be playing tomorrow against the No. 21 Washington Huskies. It's the first ranked match that Wisconsin has had since their run of five in a row. They most recently played Maryland and Iowa.

Grace Egan will give a boost to this team, as after playing No. 21 Washington, they will have matches against Michigan, USC, UCLA, Michigan State, and four more Big Ten games to finish the season. The one thing that Egan can immediately provide is load management relief.

Sheffield has wondered how his young freshmen will hold up with a much longer college season than high school seasons. Also, the expectations and elite level of volleyball are higher. He recently gave Audrey Flanagan a night off. Will he now give others a chance for a break?

She, of course, also brings talent that Wisconsin can use right now and over the run they want to make in the Big Ten Tournament and beyond. Egan only boosts this team as they enter the final stretch of the season before the tournaments. It is fantastic to have her back.

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