WILMINGTON, N.C – With the season rapidly approaching, one UNCW women's basketball player in particular is excited to perform under the bright lights inside Trask Coliseum for the first time. Although another debut just a few days later under a different type of spotlight has her far more nervous.
Torin Rogers, a redshirt junior forward on the UNCW women's basketball team, is eager to make her UNCW debut after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign before it even began.
After transferring to UNCW from Richmond, where she was a key role player on the squad that won 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship, Rogers was very excited to begin her career at UNCW last fall.
However, everything stopped with her season-ending injury in July, which finally ended up requiring surgery last October.
"It was very frustrating because I just transferred here," Rogers said. "I was looking forward to a fresh start, and within two weeks of being here, my season was over."
During her long road to recovery, Rogers continued to persevere off the court, taking things one day at a time. There were many ups and downs, but each day, Rogers overcame adversity while maintaining a positive attitude.
"Torin came in every day with a smile on her face and worked very hard to get back into playing shape," said Colleen McConie, the Seahawks' athletic trainer. "She persevered and turned adversity into an opportunity. I'm really excited to watch her play this season."
Rogers has spent countless hours inside Trask Coliseum without physically playing a game. She worked tirelessly to rehab the injury, worked her way back into on-court activities, put up thousands of shots, and cheered her teammates on from the sidelines.
"I recruited Torin while she was in high school, so I was very familiar with the type of person and player we got," head coach Nicole Woods said. "When I spoke to her former coach at Richmond, he told me he hoped his daughter grew up to be like Torin. That's just the type of person she is. She worked her way back from injury and is still cheering her teammates on along the way and being a servant leader."
When the Seahawks return to Trask Coliseum against Barton College for their season-opening exhibition game on Oct. 29, Rogers will end a streak of nearly 600 days without playing in an organized basketball game.
"My time out allowed me to be around the game in a different way than I was used to," Rogers said. "I learned a lot by watching my teammates. I'm so excited to be back. It's go time. I've worked very hard for this, so I am not nervous at all."
Her head coach is also excited to have her back and is proud of the work she has done to come back stronger.
"She's hungry, hardworking, coachable, selfless, and has the desire to be the best," Woods said. "Her versatility will be an asset to our program. I can't wait for Seahawk Nation to get to know her!"
Aside from all the demands that basketball requires for a young student-athlete, plus rehabbing a difficult injury, Rogers continued to excel academically. She graduated early with her bachelor's degree in political science last spring.
"Torin exemplified what it means to be a determined student-athlete," said Maggie Tabone, the Seahawks' academic coordinator. "Even as a transfer, she embraced every challenge at UNCW and not only thrived but graduated ahead of schedule. She regularly attended our weekly meetings with a smile on her face and a positive attitude. Her drive and commitment have set a powerful example for her peers."
Rogers has wasted no time in the classroom and has already started her master's degree in public administration with a focus on government. She also plans to go to law school in the near future.
What many fans may not know is that Rogers has also been pursuing her other passion while away from the court. She is embarking on her career as a musician, and her first live performance is two days before the Seahawks begin the regular season.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, Rogers will be center stage at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. She will take the stage around 4 p.m. for a 15-minute set.
"Less than a month ago, I walked into Loud Music Company in Wilmington because I was looking to buy a banjo, but they didn't sell instruments," Rogers said. "It turns out it was a lesson and recording studio, so I signed up for voice and piano lessons just for fun. I went for my first day, and before my one-hour lesson was over, the owner, Michael Cole, had me signed up to play this show at Greenfield. I am so excited, but I'm also still in shock about this opportunity."
Rogers, a native of Brasstown, North Carolina, fell in love with music as a little girl, playing the piano at the age of five, one year before she even picked up a basketball. During her time away from the court, she continued to pursue her passion and always knew that she wanted to showcase her talent on stage.
"I've written hundreds of my own songs since I was little, and I am grateful for the opportunity to showcase a few of them," Rogers said. "I would describe my music as mellow pop, and I also really enjoy writing piano ballads."
With her season-ending injury last year, Rogers had more time to sit down and focus on songwriting, and it has since opened doors for her that might not have been there.
"Being injured allowed me to focus on music more than I had in the last 10 years, Rogers said. "I come up with the music first, and the words come based on how the music sounds to me. I think I worked on 50 or more songs during my time away from basketball."
Rogers cited Taylor Swift as her most significant musical influence. Her parents also introduced her to a wide range of older musicians, including John Lennon, Anne and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Prince, and Stevie Nicks, which helped shape the foundation of her journey as a singer-songwriter.
"My wide range and diverse amount of music I listen to has influenced the way that I write and the sounds that I listen for."
Only a select few teammates and coaches have heard her sing. They are looking forward to her return to the court on Wednesday, but they also recognize the importance of supporting her from the audience on Saturday afternoon.
"I am super excited to see Torin on the court again because we were both rehabbing our injuries at the same time, and we both worked very hard to come back stronger," said UNCW guard Mary Ferrito, who will also make her return on Wednesday. "I am equally as excited to see Torin sing because she has an awesome voice and she is always in the studio working hard."
So, whether you see Rogers on the court throughout the season at Trask Coliseum or performing on stage, know she will give you 110% with every performance.
"Music helps me with life. I feel that there is a song for everything that I am feeling," Rogers said. "Music represents all emotions, and hopefully, one day, my music will be able to reach people during the times that they need it."
