Indiana’s Yarden Garzon talks what basketball has given her ahead of Women’s March Madness

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Indiana guard Yarden Garzon’s family lives in Israel. Her twin sister is serving in the Israeli military. Garzon, however, is here, preparing for the ninth-seeded Hoosiers’ first-round Women’s March Madness matchup against No. 8 Utah on Friday.

“She should be serving right now, but she has her visa to come play basketball in the U.S.,” teammate Sydney Parrish said Thursday. “I think, as a team and as a staff, we do as much as we can, putting our arms around her.”

Garzon, a junior, committed to Indiana in 2021. She was a four-star recruit, known for her sharpshooting abilities and rebounding skills as a guard. She decided to make Bloomington, Indiana, her home without knowing the implications that would entail.

“I’m trying to use my platform to raise awareness about my country and the situation,” Garzon said. “I do everything I can to put it on the biggest stage possible.”

Garzon gives her teammates pins to wear and also has worn a dog-tag necklace imprinted with the words “Bring Them Home,” in reference to Israel’s hostages taken by Hamas, after games.

“There’s a lot of fake news out there and I’m trying to clarify this on my social media,” Garzon said. “I’m trying to share as much as I can, and I feel like I’m doing a lot of stuff with the Jewish community, trying to make everyone feel a part of something.”

Garzon is the Hoosiers’ leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game. She holds the Indiana record for most 3-pointers made in a career with 217.

“Basketball helped me to be there for my country, so I feel like it’s great that I have this stage to do it,” she said.

Carter Braun is a student in the University of Georgia’s Sports Media Certificate program.

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