After last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance, the Vanderbilt Commodores the women’s basketball team started the new year off right.

The team is 2-0 after two dominant wins against Lipscomb and Austin Peay. They are getting ready to play South Florida Bulls in their first road game of the season on Thursday.

As the season gets underway, one of the Commodores’ players is off to a strong start. She is returning from a long-term injury that saw her miss most of the 2023-24 season.

Guard Madison Greene missed most of last year with an ACL injury. She was forced to watch from the sidelines as her program made its first NCAA Tournament bid in the 2013-14 season.

She appeared in just two games last season, averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. Even with little playing time during her freshman season, it was clear she would be a big part of the program’s success.

Greene returned to the field in the season opener against Lipscomb, the same game from the previous season in which he was injured last December. She stepped up in a big way for the Commodores and had 14 points and six steals in the contest.

“I am very impressed. She is getting more comfortable. I think I said it last time, I don’t think the athlete or the average person understands how hard it is to do that, you know, not play as much and then practice but not make plays,” said the head coach of Vanderbilt. Shea Ralph. “Playing games is another level of rehab, and she just hit the ground running. Hopefully people can see why we missed her so much last year.”

Greene also shined in the second game of the season, posting 13 points, four rebounds and two steals in the team’s 93-37 win over Austin Peay. Her presence off the bench has really helped the team and giving Ralph the option to go to her when needed is crucial, especially early in the season.

The sophomore will look to build on her comeback season and help the Dores improve to 3-0 on the season when they face the Bulls in their first true test of the season. A solid win by the Commodores could finally move them into the AP Top 25 next week. Thursday’s tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+.