More than basketball: Brock University’s Vienna Vercesi on injury and identity

By Tia Kelly

After suffering multiple serious injuries in her first year, Brock University women’s basketball forward, Vienna Vercesi, was forced to confront not only the physical toll of the game she loved but also the mental challenges. 

After making her OUA debut in January of 2024, Vercesi’s rookie season quickly took an unexpected turn. What followed was a series of injuries, including a torn meniscus that required surgery, a torn LCL and ACL, and a broken nose. After a year of setbacks and recovery, she finally returned to the court in late October of 2025. Through these challenges, Vercesi began to recognize her own resilience.

“Having to be away from the sport that I love and having to find a different angle to everything really taught me how strong I am and how much I am able to adapt, given my situations,” said Vercesi.

Preparing for recovery is difficult for athletes because it impacts all aspects of their identity and routine. For Vercesi, the process was both overwhelming and mentally challenging. Learning to trust her body again was not immediate, and the fear of reinjury was always present. 

“The most difficult part was trusting if my knee was going to hold and not give out, especially doing the motion that tore my ACL,” said Vercesi.

“It did affect the way I approached getting back on court because I would avoid using the euro step and avoid hard left foot planting and cutting for a while, until I got used to the motion.”

Still, she says her parents pushed her through the hard days and helped her get rehab done and do her strength work even when she didn’t want to. Verseci says with the support of those around her, including her teammates, she was able to shift her mindset and understand that her injuries did not have to define her or limit her ability to return to the game.

“I did rely on my teammates, who helped me stay accountable for my rehab and showed up even when I wasn’t mentally 100 per cent,” said Vercesi. 

“I leaned into that sense of community with my team.”

Basketball has always been a key part of Vercesi’s life. From a young age, the game became more than just a sport. It was something she grew up around and is deeply connected to her loved ones. 

“My dad got me into basketball; he built a court in our backyard when we were younger,” said Vercesi.

“I picked up a ball and just never really put it down. I fell in love with the team aspect of the game. I loved how it brought my family together; we’d play together in the back yard.”

As women’s basketball continues to grow, especially in Canada, with the addition of the Toronto Tempo in the WNBA, opportunities in the sport are more visible. For Vercesi, this progress reflects the evolution of a sport she has loved her entire life and highlights the hope for future generations to see themselves at the highest level.

“My younger self would be ecstatic,” said Vercesi.

“Growing up, there wasn’t really the notion of women’s basketball at the professional level. Having a team in a city just two hours from home would make younger Vee so happy to see the women’s basketball representation she longed for.”

Her long-standing relationship with basketball also played a significant role in motivating her throughout her recovery, pushing her to return to the court despite the challenges she faced.

“Sitting back and reflecting on the fact that I’ve played this sport for my entire life... I wanted it for myself,” said Vercesi.

“I wanted to prove to myself that although I did go through traumatic knee surgeries, I could push through.”

Vercesi’s challenging athletic journey highlights the reality of being a student-athlete, where identity is often tied to sport. When the sport is taken away due to an injury, the impact can be not only physical, but also mentally and emotionally challenging. For many athletes, especially at the university level, learning how to navigate setbacks while maintaining a sense of self can be one of the most difficult parts of the experience. 

“I did feel stripped away from my athletic identity,” said Vercesi.

“It was really hard having to sit and watch practices and games, and with that, I found a love for rehab and the weight room.” 

Through her perseverance, Vercesi’s story reflects the importance of resilience, showing that overcoming adversity is not just about returning to play but about growing through the process.

“I think success is showing up, whether it is showing up at 60 per cent, 90 per cent, or even at 10 per cent, and giving whatever I have left in my tank,” said Verseci. 

“Honestly, success is that little piece of resilience.”