Oregon will have to open the season without one of its most important pieces after starting guard Sofia Bell suffered a season-ending lower-body injury in practice, Ducks coach Kelly Graves said Tuesday.
Graves didn’t hide the impact of the loss in his statement, saying:
“During practice in preparation for the upcoming season, senior guard Sofia Bell sustained a season-ending lower-body injury. We are heartbroken for Sofia, who is one of our leaders on the court and in the locker room. While this is difficult news, we know how committed she is to her recovery, and our entire program will be behind her every step of the way.”
Bell’s injury leaves Oregon without the 6-foot guard as the 2026-2027 season approaches, with the Ducks scheduled to begin Nov. 2 at home against Hawaii.
A senior from Portland’s Jesuit High School, Bell was a steadying force for Oregon last season after the program missed the NCAA tournament in consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024. Graves pointed to her work ethic in the classroom and on the floor as part of what helped stabilize the Ducks.
On the court, Bell started all 36 games for Oregon’s 23-13 team that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling at Texas. She averaged 6.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from 3-point range.
Her absence could push 6-1 junior guard Avary Cain into the starting five next to returning guards Katie Fiso and Ari Long, with Ehis Etute in the frontcourt. Cain, a UCLA transfer, played in all 36 games last season and averaged 3.8 points in 14.0 minutes per game while shooting 34.8 percent from long distance.
Another possible frontcourt starter is fifth-year transfer forward Mallory Heyer, who came over from Minnesota and sat out last season.
Oregon also added 6-2 transfer forward Hilary Fuller from Belmont, who put up 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season.
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USC Quarterback's Response To Dante Moore Injury Has Oregon Fans Talking
A late hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore turned a tense stretch of the USC game into something bigger than the final score, and Jayden Maiavas reaction did not go unnoticed. After Moore was diagnosed with a concussion, Maiava stayed near the injured Duck, a brief but striking moment in a game that already had plenty of bad blood because of the targeting call that got USC linebacker Desman Stephens ejected.
For Oregon fans, the scene added another layer to a matchup that had already swung on discipline and physicality. Maiava still put together a strong passing night with 326 yards and two touchdowns in USCs 41-27 loss, but the image of the quarterback lingering after Moore went down became one of the lasting talking points from the game, especially with Stephens later suspended for the next game. [Read more 🡒]
Dante Moore Injury Sparked A USC Reaction Oregon Fans Wont Like
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On the USC radio side, Pete Arbogast pushed back on the idea that the hit was targeting and questioned whether Moore had slid feet-first, while analyst Shaun Cody saw it differently. For Oregon fans, the frustrating part is less the debate itself than how abruptly their quarterback was taken off on a cart after a night that still had plenty of football left, with Raiola stepping in and throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns. [Read more 🡒]
Rece Davis Just Raised A Concern Oregon Fans Should Notice
As Oregon settles into the Big Ten grind, the Ducks are already hearing warning bells from one of college footballs most visible voices. ESPNs Rece Davis singled out a few conference teams as potentially underrated threats on the Ducks schedule, pointing to UCLA and Nebraska as programs that could be more dangerous than their names or early reputations suggest.
UCLA, in particular, has looked sharper than plenty of people expected with its 4-0 start under coach Bob Chesney, and the roster has been bolstered by transfers from James Madison, including running back Wayne Knight. Oregon and UCLA already have some recent familiarity through recent matchups and player movement, which only adds another layer to a game that could be trickier than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]