Keeping elite women's basketball players healthy during international competition

Two UCLA Health doctors, Sharon Hame and Sabrina Sawlani, are part of the medical team supporting the 2026 U.S. Basketball Women's National Team during their participation in the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin. Both doctors, who are faculty members in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, serve as team physicians for various UCLA and professional sports teams.

Their responsibilities encompass both orthopedic and primary care for elite athletes, collaborating with athletic trainers to ensure the health and well-being of the players.

Hame explains that their role is to maintain the athletes' health and address any issues that arise during the tournament. They have established relationships with many of the athletes from previous competitions, allowing them to understand their individual health care needs. In the event of acute injuries, Hame and Sawlani play a crucial role in evaluating the injuries, explaining the expected outcomes, and determining the necessary treatment plans.

Both doctors emphasize the importance of nutrition and sleep for the athletes' recovery and performance. The players follow personalized fueling plans, ensuring they consume adequate carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Sleep is considered an essential aspect of athletic performance, with the athletes bringing their own pillows to facilitate proper rest during the tournament.

The medical team prepares for various types of injuries, including ACL tears, which are more common in women basketball players. They also address muscle strains, sprains, especially ankle sprains, and other acute concerns such as concussions and eye injuries. To prevent injuries, the team provides individualized warm-ups, ankle bracing or taping, and follows a comprehensive warm-up led by the sport performance coach before every practice and game.