Purdue’s women’s basketball team has taken another hit before the season even tips off.
Zoja Stirn, a newcomer from Slovenia, announced on Instagram that she has suffered a season-ending ACL injury and will need surgery, ruling her out for the Boilermakers this winter. Her message made clear how quickly the start of her Purdue journey changed course: "With a heavy heart, I have to share that my season is coming to an end much sooner than I ever expected," Stirn wrote on Instagram. "The beginning of my American journey has taken an unexpected turn, as I have unfortunately injured my left knee and will need surgery to repair my ACL."
Stirn had joined Purdue after playing in the Slovakian Women’s Basketball League, where she averaged 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game during the 2025-26 season.
Her injury comes on the heels of another setback for coach Katie Gearlds’ group. During Purdue’s first week of practice, the Boilermakers lost transfer guard Aysia Proctor to a season-ending knee injury. Proctor, like Stirn, was in her first season with the program and was expected to be an impact player.
With both players sidelined, Purdue is down to 12 available players for the 2026-27 campaign. The roster opened with 14 players, but those two injuries have trimmed the number in recent weeks.
Even with the losses, Purdue still has seven guards on the roster: Taylor Henderson, Keona Douwstra, Jelena Bulajic, McKenna Layden, Maya Zilbershlag, Hannah Wickstrom and Hunter.
Those absences will force the remaining guards to carry more of the load and tighten the Boilermakers’ rotation heading into the season.
Gearlds, along with players Hannah Wickstrom and Kyndall, is scheduled to travel to Chicago this week for Big Ten Basketball Media Days. The women’s teams are set to be in the spotlight on Wednesday, with the men following on Thursday.
Purdue will next take the floor on Saturday, Oct. 24, when it hosts UIC in an exhibition game at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers then open the regular season against IU Indy on Monday, Nov. 2.
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