Why Does Syla Swords Wear a Face Mask? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

As March Madness continues, many have noticed one Michigan player in the women’s tournament wearing a protective face mask, and that is Michigan guard Syla Swords.

Many are saying that because of this, they are reminded of Detroit Pistons great Richard “Rip” Hamilton, who also wore a protective face mask when he played during the 2003-04 NBA season.

The reason why Hamilton wore that mask was because he suffered a nasal fracture during a game and needed to protect his face. This is also the reason why Syla Swords is also wearing a face mask, as she also broke her nose during a game.

She actually broke her nose during a preseason game, which means that her nose healed up, so she eventually stopped wearing that mask. However, she got her nose broken again, so she had to wear that mask again.

This time, however, when her nose was healed, she decided to keep the mask on during games so she would not break it again.

There are a lot of ways to break a nose in basketball, from stray balls to getting caught by a loose elbow. Swords noted that she now feels “protected” whenever she wears the protective fake mask, but does admit that it has its downsides.

“I feel protected by it,” she explained. “I wouldn’t say I like it. The sweat pools into it, but it’s a good quality mask.”

Syla Swords Talks About Matchup vs. Louisville

Syla Swords and the Michigan Wolverines may have been coasting during the first few rounds of the NCAA Tournament, but No. 3 Louisville could prove to be their first real challenge, and Syla Swords said that they are taking the Cardinals seriously.

“We just need to stay true to what we do,” she said. “They’re a bigger matchup, and that gives us an advantage on the offensive end.”

This is a must-win situation as the Wolverines need to beat the Cardinals in order to go through to the Elite Eight.

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