I think it is a combination of her mental thinking about her injury and the fact she hasn't played basketball in at least two seasons. I would think she would have a very hard time making the rotation next season due to the above two reason I mentioned. If she is not confident in the knee she want be able to play basketball. With all the perimeter players we have on the team next season where does she fit in.
Reynolds, Carter, Middleton, Jackson, Cooper, Deshields, and Dunbar for 120 minutes. It will take a lot of hard work and a huge gain in confidence for her to find any playing time in that group.
She had her surgery after coming to UT, didn't she? Or am I wrong? If so, her rehabilitation should have been handled properly. If she's still got knee issues, then I would assume they would be taken care of, one way or the other, this year. She didn't play for two years, so she has a lot of catching up to do and is not ready, obviously. It would be nice to get a report from someone who's seen her playing at practices but, good as this site is, there are no eyes at practices and Warlick never says anything specific. She just needs to keep pushing and hope to get some PT next year.
Internet search. Think her second surgery was called a micro fracture repair whatever that is. So, she has a year after that before she is really recovered. So, don't expect anything until next year.
Micro-fracture surgery is used to regenerate cartilage. Amar'e Stoudemire had it and it took him almost 2 seasons to fully recovery. Of course, every case is different but not should be surprised that she is not ready to go full bore just a few months after this procedure.