For graduate guard Bri McDaniel, Maryland women’s basketball’s exhibition game against Virginia Tech was much, much more than a meaningless exhibition. 

It was a return, 643 days in the making. Jan. 14, 2025, was the last time McDaniel saw the floor against Minnesota – the night she tore her ACL. And after redshirting all of last season, the relief Monday was couldn’t be understated. 

“I feel good… It’s just been a long time, and just trying to get the nerves and jitters out,” McDaniel said prior to Monday’s matchup. “Long time coming, but I’m super excited to get back.” 

The Terps beat Virginia Tech, 93-82, and McDaniel had 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting in just under 26 minutes.  She also had four rebounds and an assist. 

“For me, it was just pure excitement. Just super excited to be back, especially with this team and coaching staff,” McDaniel said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back on this court. It’s just indescribable; I’m really just super happy to be back.” 

The story on the court speaks for itself; McDaniel looked like the player she was in her first three seasons with Maryland. She’s a tenacious leader who isn’t shy to get physical and play in the dirty areas. 

“We saw Bri’s motor. It starts with her,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “I mean, defensively, she had a heck of a matchup, you know, making [Carleigh Wenzel’s] life miserable tonight, being really aggressive.”

She practiced toward the end of last season, but obviously couldn’t play due to her redshirting. That may’ve elongated her process, but it was well worth it. That’s what made Monday night even more special: the chance to play against an opposing team. 

She was able to get those jitters out early with a layup through contact. 

643 days later, Bri McDaniel is back on the board ❤️

McDaniel returned to the starting lineup in tonight’s exhibition, scoring her first points since suffering a devastating injury on January 14, 2025.

“I think you need to go day by day,” McDaniel said. “You challenge yourself.” 

There’s no specific way to tell how the extra time away affected her. But one thing is for sure: she’s back now and expected to have a huge impact. 

But Monday also showed that it will be an adjustment; Ava McKennie is the only teammate on this roster she had ever played with before. But her basketball IQ and her ability to play tough is still there and were incredibly evident. 

“It’s amazing having Bri back and just playing with a dog like Bri,” Oluchi Okananwa said. 

“When I think about last year, all I was thinking was, wait until we come back.”

It doesn’t matter that it was an exhibition game. She was playing physical on both ends of the ball because this is a game she’ll never forget. 

She’s waited her turn and been on the sidelines for most of the last two seasons. This is her chance to prove that she can still be one of the best players on the court on any given night. 

“Just being able to, honestly, put the jersey back on,” McDaniel said about what she’ll remember most about Monday. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to play, and having to remember my whole regimen of the game, sometimes it’s hard.”