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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

January, Bjorklund face uncertain professional future

While Courtney Vandersloot continues the whirlwind, finishing her first WNBA season before heading overseas, Spokane’s other two WNBA connections are in limbo.

University grad Angie Bjorklund injured her foot and was waived July 22 by the Chicago Sky, who selected her in the second round after a record-breaking career at Tennessee. Just three days later Lewis and Clark graduate Briann January, a three-year veteran out of Arizona State and the starting point guard for Indiana, tore the ACL in her right knee.

“I’m ahead of schedule,” January said. “I start the walk-to-run progression on Monday.”

She has spent her time by acting as an assistant coach as the Fever earned the top seed out of the Eastern Conference for the playoffs that begin next week.

“There’s still a part of you that wants to be on the court,” said January, who is meeting with a sports psychologist. “I have good days and bad days. I just do what I can.”

These days the target date to return from ACL surgery is closer to six months than a year, so there is a possibility January could go overseas for the second half of the season, but her priority is to get healthy.

After a quick visit home, Bjorklund went back to Tennessee to work with the training staff on a left foot injury before heading to France.

“I reinjured myself coming back too early,” she said. “Everything is up in the air now.”

She’ll be in a walking boot for a couple of weeks and is expected to be sidelined for three to six weeks. The foot has given her problems since midway through her senior season when she was en route to breaking Tennessee’s school record for career 3-pointers made.

“I hope to get overseas soon but now I’m back to square one,” she said. “They wanted me over there Sept 1. It’s really tough sitting out. I just have to take it one day at a time.”