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PROVO — Arielle Mackey-Williams was in a tough spot when the BYU guard suffered a season-ending knee injury before her junior year.
Coming off a sophomore season where the New Zealand international started all 32 games in Amber Whiting's first year as head coach, the 5-foot-9 guard from Ngati Porou was excited to build on her 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds per game effort across 34.9 minutes per game.
She even earned international experience via a call-up to her country's 3-on-3 squad for a pair of international tournaments.
But Mackey-Williams never made it to her junior season. After tearing her ACL injury prior to the opening game of the 2023-24 campaign, those plans were shelved. Faced with the prospect of being unable to play the sport that helped raise her, Mackey-Williams felt exhausted.
"Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, it all took a toll on me," she told the KSL.com Cougar Beat podcast. "Having to be on the sidelines and not play with my team at all, I questioned a lot of my faith initially going through my injury. I think that's where I started reading scriptures and going to church with my teammates more, which helped me grow my faith and trust in his timing."
In one of the most difficult moments of her life, Mackey-Williams began looking toward God. Her mother, stepfather and siblings had been baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints back home, she said, but for one reason or another, they stopped attending church and Mackey-Williams didn't grow up attending regular services.
That is, until she got to BYU, where religion classes are required and the Cougars' athletic department is one of the most visible examples of the worldwide faith with over 17 million members. Mackey-Williams started going to church with her uncle, former BYU rugby assistant coach Wayne Tarawhiti, and his family as a freshman.
But her ACL injury sparked a further inquest into her spirituality. In addition to rehab and school, she began studying the scriptures regularly, talking to her teammates and coaches about what she was learning, and posting quotes by Latter-day Saint apostles on her Instagram stories.
Finally, last Sunday, Mackey-Williams was baptized into the church in a ceremony performed by her uncle and attended by most of her teammates, coaches and BYU staff members — a group that had become like family.
"Tearing your ACL, it allows you to take a step back and offers you a lot of self-reflection," Whiting said. "It helps you do whatever you need to do to find happiness in your life. I saw Amari go through the same thing (a year ago); you have a lot of dark moments, and look to rely on an outside presence to give you faith to get through hard things. I was happy and proud of her to take that step on her own — and we're grateful to have been included in her journey."
While undergoing rehab and learning little by little about the church, Mackey-Williams spent last Christmas with Whiting, her husband, Trent, and their two children, when the family "did everything we always do" but also sparked a desire in the player to learn more from local church missionaries.
"She invited all of her teammates to be there and see her progress," Whiting said. "I freak out a little; I was so excited for her. For me, it helped strengthen my testimony and my faith to see her go through all of that."
Added teammate Kaylee Smiler, a fellow New Zealand native: "I don't wish an ACL tear on anybody, but hard times can make you see what's important. ... There was a silver lining to her challenge."
In addition to rehab and regular meetings with missionaries, Mackey-Williams has also stayed close to her team. Unable to participate in practice, she's often the first player in the gym and following every move from the sideline, offering another perspective for coaches and teammates — an extra pair of eyes on the game.
Now 19 weeks post surgery, Mackey-Williams' knee is beginning to regain the strength it initially lost. She's even reached the stage where she "feels fine," but knows her recovery isn't over.
Her healing continues, both physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, she admits.
"When I look back at it, I think my decision to come to BYU was one where everything happens for a reason," Mackey-Williams said. "There always was more of a purpose for me to come to BYU, besides just playing basketball."
