Fairfield's star guard Janelle Brown - Injured, but Impactful

By Joe Budzelek
(@stf_ncaa)

Fresh off a historic 2023-24 season that featured a program-record 31 wins – highlighted with a 29-game winning streak and a MAAC regular and postseason championship – Fairfield entered this season returning nine players from their rotation, their top-five scorers and added talent in both the transfer portal and in their high school recruiting classes, making the Stags the most dangerous teams in the nation. 

“We’re trying to be one of the best teams in the country – and I leave out “mid-major” intentionally,” said head coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis, the reigning MAAC, All-Met and ECAC Coach of the Year, late last summer. 

Fairfield’s foundation was to be led by Long Island natives and All-MAAC First Team selections Janelle Brown and Meghan Andersen, but late in the third quarter of the Stags’ December 8th home matchup against Villanova, an ACL tear ended Brown’s season, who was last year’s MAAC Player of the Year, returning for her fifth year of eligibility after averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game last year. The ultra-efficient guard, Brown’s 57.2 field goal percentage last season ranked tops nationally amongst guards while her 45.1 three point percentage was a program record. 

For most teams, an injury that drastic would have derailed Fairfield’s season, but while Janelle Brown’s injury prevented her from game action this season, her veteran leadership on the bench and off the court has been a guiding light. “In that Villanova game, as soon as Nellie returned to the bench she was yelling, cheering and bringing the energy,” said Thibault-DuDonis last night as the team prepares for their Friday night first round matchup against Kansas State, “That really showed her strength, resilience and the presence she has with our team.”

Photo Credit - Olivia Frzop - Fairfield Athletics

With omnipresent support, Brown has been essential in mentoring the breakout of sophomore guard Kaety L’Amoreaux, whose per-game averages of rebounds, assists and steals closely resemble the production of Brown’s rates last season. Returning guards Izabela Nicoletti Leite and Kendall McGruder have also stepped up, soaking up assist opportunities, as well, while backcourt mates Sydni Scott and Jillian Huerter have boosted the Stags’ perimeter attack on offense. 

Even without the on-court production, Janelle Brown's impact on Fairfield’s backcourt has been a key factor in the Stags' second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.