Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu’s mindset shifted after redshirting last season for Maryland women’s basketball. Sitting out made the redshirt junior hungrier than ever to play again — what she said means “everything” to her.

Ozzy-Momodu is one of multiple Maryland college athletes who have taken a redshirt year, which is when a college athlete postpones participation in gameplay for a season. They can still practice with their team, but don’t use one of their four years of eligibility.

Ozzy-Momodu decided to redshirt after tearing her ACL in February 2024. Teammates who endured similar injuries told her not to rush recovery, reminding her the importance of avoiding further injuries.

The forward struggled with sitting out initially since she was used to constantly being on the court in her previous two seasons at Gulf Coast State.

But her mentality quickly changed.

She focused more on the team as the season progressed. While she was unable to contribute on the floor, if her team was winning, so was she. Ozzy-Momodu said redshirting allowed her to develop skills she never would have focused on without the year off.

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Logan Turner, a redshirt junior for Maryland softball, also took a medical redshirt year. The transfer underwent labrum surgery three days before her opening game at the University of North Florida in 2024.

The infielder said her redshirt year gave her the chance “to slow down and focus on recovery” while still being able to play four collegiate years.

The process wasn’t easy, though.

Turner said she was in a rough place after her surgery — there were times she wasn’t sure if she wanted to pick up a softball again.

But reflecting on what the sport meant to her and “finding that love again” kept her motivated. She also learned valuable lessons on different team roles while on the sidelines.

“Everyone has something that they’re really good at,” Turner said. “People can fill their role and not be too big or small … that makes the team the best that they can be.”

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Turner credits her redshirt year with renewing her passion for softball. She had time to recollect and remember why she dedicates so much to the game.

“I love softball like I never have in the last few years,” Turner said.

While injuries are a common reason for redshirting, they’re not the only cause. Other motives include enhancing athletic skills and extending an athlete’s eligibility.

Saylor Poffenbarger, a guard for Maryland women’s basketball, redshirted after transferring to a new college mid-season. The redshirt senior didn’t want to lose a full year of eligibility to play half a season.

Poffenbarger said her decision to redshirt came at a time when her relationship with basketball wasn’t at its best. She said she wasn’t truly enjoying basketball at UConn, and redshirting allowed her to “grow another respect for the game.”

“Looking at [the] bigger picture, I knew in the long run it was the best thing for me,” Poffenbarger said. “It gave me a new aspect of the game … more coach outlook — I was watching a lot, seeing different things on the court that I wouldn’t see as a player.”

While Poffenbarger recommends the redshirt year, she said it takes a strong mentality to take time off.

Poffenbarger said the key is not looking at redshirting as a negative, but instead as an opportunity for players to ask themselves, “How can I get better? How can I grow off the court?”