Mackenzie Holmes ready to 'give it everything' for Seattle Storm after year-long rehab process

401 days. That’s how long former Indiana women’s basketball standout center Mackenzie Holmes was off the floor. From her final game in an Indiana uniform to her first appearance for the Seattle Storm, there were many ups and downs that led her to Sunday afternoon’s debut.

After finishing off her IU career in a Sweet Sixteen loss to South Carolina, Holmes was selected 26th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft and set to begin her professional career before announcing the difficult decision to basically ‘redshirt’ her rookie season and undergo what would be season-ending knee surgery.

Despite all of that, the Storm still knew they wanted to take a chance on Mackenzie Holmes and what would be a year-long recovery.

“I’d be lying if I said it was easy,” Holmes said at the Storm’s Media Day. “I’ve had surgery before but not anything like this. So it just takes a certain amount of discipline — you don’t see results every day. Just continuing to stay the course and knowing that something really great could be on the other side. Just trusting that if it’s meant to be, God will make it happen. After that surgery, I just kept that in the back of my mind.”

While Holmes was away from the team, she spent the season rehabbing at Indiana and working as a graduate assistant for the women’s team. It gave Holmes a different perspective of the game.

For the multi-time All-American and someone who led Indiana to an Elite Eight, two Sweet Sixteens and a Big Ten Regular Season title — the first in 40 years — it was a tremendous way to keep learning and growing even after accomplishing so much.

“The fact that Indiana gave me the opportunity to continue to give back to that program, that means a lot to me,” Holmes said. “Seeing the game from a different view I think has definitely helped me as a play. It gave me a lot of opportunity to see the game from different perspectives, pour into those girls as best I can. It was a great learning experience for me.”

So on Sunday, when it was time for Holmes to step on the floor for the first time in her professional career — she took everything she learned over the last year and put it to good use.

She finished with nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes — and she stood out to head coach Noelle Quinn.

“Mack came to market pretty early,” Quinn said following Holmes’ debut. “Her knee is healthy and she looks in great shape and was able to learn our concepts really quickly and get acclimated really quickly.

“What you see is comfort because ehe got a head start on things. Mack can — she is very physical, she can rebound. She was the top scorer at Indiana for a reason and very efficient in the paint. Even with our offense as it’s spaced out a little bit more and little different than she’s used to, she’s grasping those concepts. The year she spent coaching really helped her see the game in a different lens and also how she can prepare for the game.”

While Mackenzie Holmes’ talent has never been in question, her health was. But because of her dedicated rehab process and mentality, her debut on Sunday was no surprise.

Holmes, who says this is the healthiest she’s been in a ‘really long time’, is looking to not only secure her spot on the Storm roster, but become a critical player on a team that has high goals and aspirations.

“It’s been great to be surrounded by such experienced vets, and they are continuing to just pour into us every single day, pushing us to be better,” Holmes said. ” … I watch everything they do and just try to be a sponge in every aspect.

“I knew that when I got the chance to get back on the floor I was going to give it everything I had because a year ago at this time I had no idea I’d be able to play again”

Holmes is playing again and ready to take that ever-so-important first step in her professional career.