The Memorial Day weekend was just getting started May 23 when Maryland women’s basketball Coach Brenda Frese had the unenviable task of informing her players that starting point guard Lexie Brown was leaving the program.
The first-team all-Big Ten selection who factored significantly into the Terrapins’ Final Four appearances the past two seasons had asked for and been granted a transfer, citing her strong preference to play closer to her home in Suwanee, Ga., during her final two years of eligibility.
So instead of simply enjoying the first long weekend of their summer vacation, players spent much of the time processing the disheartening news and trying to understand fully why Brown was walking away from a team poised to make a run at another Final Four and perhaps the second appearance in an NCAA championship game in school history.