“One thing she’s been really good about is staying engaged on the bench by having her in our huddles and taking notes and doing things,” Merchant said during the press conference. “Right now, we’re going to have to give her more of a defined role of something a little more aggressive to keep her mind working.”

Williams was not at MSU’s first exhibition game, and Merchant said she went home to regain her thoughts and search her soul about what she wanted to do in the future.

“At 1 p.m., I had her come into the locker room while the girls were out and her mom and dad were in there,” Merchant said. “That’s the first time I’ve seen her since she’s been back. It’s hard for her, but she’s ready.”

When senior guard Jasmine Thomas saw Williams on the sideline Sunday, she said it gave her a boost of confidence going into the game.

“I loved it and was so excited to see her today,” Thomas said. “Just her presence being there, I really missed it since she’s been gone.”

Team orthopedic surgeon Michael Shingles said during the Oct. 31 press conference that another year of working with Merchant and the team is going to be a tough transition on her.

Merchant echoed those sentiments, but said she is planning a comeback and already is working to reach that goal.

“She’s at that point where the shock, the denial, the frustration, the anger (and) the emotion of it, is starting to dissipate a little bit,” Merchant said.

“Now that she’s got it, she’s already asking our strength coach ‘Can I lift tomorrow? I want to get stronger.’”