Long Island Lutheran girls basketball players Sanai Green, Savvy Swords bonded over ACL recoveries

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Sanai Green splashed a three-pointer in front of the LuHi bench and Savvy Swords sprinted over for a quick high-five.

When the 6-foot guard did it again on the next possession, Swords let out a celebratory yell from across the court, audible even in Blake Arena’s second level. After a season on the sidelines for both nursing ACL tears, the seniors displayed their strong bond forged by unfortunate circumstances during Friday night’s 70-60 win over Sierra Canyon at the Hoophall Classic.

“Looking back at what we both worked through to get here, I was just so excited to see her success,” Swords said. “We both know we’re not exactly where we want to be, but I’m so happy for her.”

From strangers to close friends, their kinship stems from incalculable time spent together rehabbing from ACL tears. In Swords’ words, they’re “trauma bonded.”

“Before we got hurt, we weren’t that close,” Swords said. “After that, everything clicked.”

A four-year Crusader originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Swords enrolled at LuHi alongside her older sister, Syla, a standout sophomore for No. 8 Michigan, as a freshman. It's worth noting that LuHi junior Cece Arico's mother, Kim Barnes Arico, coaches the Wolverines. The Swords family decided on LuHi after their father, Shawn, got a coaching gig with the Long Island Nets.

Savvy Swords, a 6-1 forward, is ranked No. 19 in the 2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100, will play collegiately at Kentucky and continue being teammates with LuHi classmate Emily McDonald.

A Richmond, Virginia native, Green is ranked No. 25 in her class and committed to Duke. She started her high school career at The Steward School in her hometown. Green tore her ACL first, before ever stepping foot on LuHi’s campus, suffering the injury a week before reporting during an Overtime Select game.

Swords got hurt in the Crusaders' fourth game last year, the 'Iolani Classic championship game in Honolulu, Hawaii. Once each underwent surgery, they went through their rehab process together. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the duo attacked 6 a.m. physical therapy and conditioning sessions. The duo picked up bagels after many sessions, getting to know each other outside of basketball.

Coach Christina Raiti remembers them leaving each two-hour session sweat-drenched.

“Those two were just crushing it,” Raiti said. “They’re savages.”

Swords and Green had to watch more than a dozen games and myriad practices from the bench last winter. Of course, both yearned to play. But they became extensions of the coaching staff, Raiti said. They also leaned on each other with empathy, collecting an understanding of the rehab process and how to make the most of it.

“I think there was more empathy than sympathy,” Raiti said. “It’s been really special to see them come back together and leave a legacy."

Though Green was hurt first, Swords recovered more quickly, in time for LuHi’s first game, albeit on a heavy minutes restriction. She started playing four-minute spurts, 12 minutes per game and never in back-to-backs. Green made her Crusader debut in the fifth game of this season.

Swords played 21 minutes on Friday. Green, who came off the bench, played 25.

Neither feel 100% yet, but they’re much happier on the court than on the bench. Green said she’s learned how to use her skills differently. Swords wears a full-length leg sleeve and immobilizer on her left side. Green dons a compression sleeve over her right leg. The coaching staff is careful to monitor pain and understand risk increases when fatigued. Always keeping a bike nearby ensures the ligament stays warm. Oftentimes, Raiti asks them to stand on the bench so it doesn’t tighten up.

As much as they valued watching practices together, they don’t guard each other during them. In fact, Swords said with a smile, she tries to “stay away.”

Only knowing each other for a year-plus, it begs the question: how close are they really?

“I mean, we’re matching right now,” Green pointed out, referring to their shoes and the long sleeve undershirt she borrowed from Swords.

It’s hard for both to believe how inseparable they’ve become in just about a year. They try not to think about their time as teammates ever coming to an end. “

“We’re just trying to make the most of this year,” Green said. “We’re able to celebrate the moments together because we understand each other.”