Summitt says she’s having knee replacement surgery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt is undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Summitt wrote on her Twitter account Wednesday, “Seeking Fierce Courage… will need it after facing knee replacement surgery today, followed by weeks of rehab.” Adam Waller of the Pat Summitt Foundation confirmed that Summitt would be undergoing replacement surgery on her right knee in Knoxville and would remain in a hospital through the weekend as a precautionary measure to make sure her rehabilitation starts correctly.

Summitt led Tennessee to 1,098 wins — the most of any men’s or women’s college basketball coach — and eight national titles in 38 seasons before stepping down in April 2012, one year after announcing she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. Since stepping down, she has remained on staff as head coach emeritus.

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