Old Dominion lost its backup center to Hoshimoto's Disease. Tennessee lost its starting point guard to a torn knee ligament during a preseason pickup game.
Things got so bad that Notre Dame suited up its student manager for the NCAA tournament. Stanford resorted to calling in an All-America volleyball player.
The road to Cincinnati has been a major pain for the four teams competing for the women's national championship this weekend at Riverfront Coliseum. They've had to be as concerned with the breaks as with their brackets.
There were plenty of reasons to count all four finalists out along the way. One starter would go down, followed by her replacement.
No one has been hit harder than Notre Dame (31-6), which was down to seven scholarship players at one point because of injuries. A student manager suited up during the NCAA East Regional just to give the Irish a chance.
''All we've heard all along is we only have seven or eight people, we don't have enough horsepower, we don't have the depth, we don't have the size and we don't have the quickness,'' Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. ''This team likes to hear what they can't do, then they turn around and do it.''
Notre Dame (31-6) can compare scars with Tennessee (27-10) in their semifinal on Friday night. The Lady Vols lost point guard Kellie Jolly before the season began, one reason for a poor start.
''At the time we were going through that, we were wondering if we were going to see the end of the tunnel, so to speak,'' coach Pat Summitt said.
Fortunately for Tennessee, Jolly was able to return and play effectively. The Lady Vols were 10-6 without her and 17-4 since her return, putting them in position for their fifth national title.
''When we started the season, I did not think this basketball team could win a national championship,'' Summitt said. ''On paper, I said we're not supposed to win. But I'm not going to count this basketball team out.''
Stanford (34-1) was just looking for players when a series of injuries - strained knees, a broken finger - depleted the roster. Coach Tara VanDerveer turned to Kristin Folkl, an All-America volleyball player who led Stanford to the national championship in December.
''I don't know that I've ever been on a team that's so close,'' Folkl said. ''You wouldn't believe the bonding that goes on. It's rare that everyone on a team is so committed to one goal.''
Old Dominion (33-1) has been the healthiest of the bunch. Backup center Angie Liston has been sidelined since Jan. 31 by a thyroid condition called Hoshimoto's Disease. Clarisse Machanguana missed a couple of games with pneumonia.
As long as All-America point guard Ticha Penicheiro stays healthy, Old Dominion figures it has a chance.
''We've got the best point guard in the nation and I wouldn't hesitate to go to war with her on the court,'' coach Wendy Larry said. ''She'll give us everything we want and then some.''