Yates Struggles in Dismal Shooting Performance Against Wisconsin

UW basketball player Wesley Yates III goes 1-for-17 in loss to Badgers, raising questions about his hand injury recovery.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Wesley Yates III, a sophomore guard for the University of Washington basketball team, had a historically poor shooting performance in the Huskies' 90-73 loss to Wisconsin, going just 1-for-17 from the field. Yates, who had previously impressed with his shooting ability, struggled mightily throughout the game, leading to questions about the status of his hand injury and his ability to trust his teammates.

Why it matters

Yates' performance was one of the worst single-game shooting displays in recent UW basketball history, raising concerns about his recovery from a hand injury and his decision-making on the court. The Huskies are hoping Yates can regain his shooting touch in the final games of the season to help the team finish strong.

The details

Yates, who had previously shot 47.8% from the field and 43.9% from 3-point range for USC in 2025, went 1-for-10 in the first half and finished the game 1-for-17 overall. His lone make was a 3-pointer that pulled the Huskies within 29-19 in the first half. Huskies assistant coach Sprinkle noted that Yates was forcing shots and not trusting his teammates, which hurt the team's transition defense.

  • Yates broke a bone in his shooting hand against Seattle U in December 2025 and returned to play 26 days later.
  • The Wisconsin game took place on Saturday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Wesley Yates III

A 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Beaumont, Texas, who previously played for USC and is now on the University of Washington basketball team.

Sprinkle

An assistant coach for the University of Washington basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“No, [it was] a lot of bad shots in the first half, just forcing it. There are times when he forces it and good things happen. Tonight, out of his 17 shots, probably two of them were good shots.”

— Sprinkle, Assistant Coach (si.com)

What’s next

Yates will have at least three more games to try to regain his shooting touch and help the Huskies finish the season strong.

The takeaway

Yates' dismal shooting performance against Wisconsin raises questions about his recovery from a hand injury and his decision-making on the court. The Huskies are hoping he can bounce back in the final games of the season and regain the form that made him an effective shooter earlier in his career.