"Doing physical therapy ... is one thing," says Buescher. "Getting on the court and actually playing is another." Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

One of the better known graduates of the Master's College in Southern California, Erin Buescher still seemed like a bit of a longshot to make it big in the WNBA.

But after a breakout season in 2006 with the Western Conference champion Monarchs that earned her the WNBA's Most Improved Player of the Year award, Buescher packed her bags for San Antonio. Last year with the Silver Stars started off well for the 6-3 wing, as she posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game, but her season ended on July 11 when she tore her ACL in the opening moments of a game in Phoenix.

But Buescher is on the comeback trail and has her mind set on being ready for Opening Day 2008. WNBA.com spoke recently with Buescher about the progress of her rehab and the mental preparations for playing on a newly recovered knee.

WNBA.com: Talk to me about your ACL injury. Are you 100 percent yet?

Buescher: "I'm getting there… I'm getting there. I don't think you're ever 100 percent until you're back and used to playing again, but I'm getting there. I've had a couple of setbacks including some patellar tendonitis which slowed down the whole process, and just my mind… getting your confidence back after a major injury is maybe the biggest hurdle. The thought of actually running around, planting, diving or spinning is crazy… like 'Can I really do that on my knee?'

"But I'm heading back to San Antonio early to work out with the coaches there. And it will help to get my mind back into the right place. But it feels good. Every little step is a victory. And I'm so excited to get back on the floor. I just can't wait. You're usually pretty excited for the season to start, and you're trying to get your fitness level where it should be and get your mind in the right place for games to start. But this is a whole new challenge: I'm still trying to get into playing shape, but most of my focus in on the knee, so I'm not really able to do the sprints and other things I'm used to doing in preseason to be the best I can be. But it's just part of suffering an injury and coming back. There's an adjustment period. And I've never really been injured before, so this is all new to me."

WNBA.com: Does it ever get really frustrating or hard to deal with? Is there ever the concern that you might not get back to the level you were at over the last few seasons?

Buescher: "Yeah, it's frustrating. And not just in basketball terms. I live a pretty active life off the court, and off the court is probably where I notice the injury the most. I'm not used to sitting around and not being active: running, hiking or doing something else outside. That's frustrating, because I'm forced into living a different kind of lifestyle. And the main focus of my WHOLE offseason has been my knee and getting it better. Everything has revolved around that for the last seven months, so it's just like… man, one little twist of the knee the wrong way and you have to spend the next year trying to get it back to normal.

"Now, I'm working hard to get back into shape, and where before I'd be seeing and feeling almost immediate results, it's harder now after it atrophies to get the knee back into shape."

WNBA.com: So what does the timetable look like with regard to getting into training camp and possibly being ready for Opening Day?

Buescher: "I'm not sure, but I should know more pretty soon once I get situated in San Antonio. Right now, I'm doing my own rehab with a therapist in San Francisco. But doing physical therapy and getting the knee stronger is one thing. Getting on the court and actually playing is another. Of course, I'm hoping that things miraculously get better overnight… that my recovery is part of God's divine plan (laughs)… you know, I am spiritual (laughs), but we'll see. Based on the normal timeframe, it should be ready for the start of the season, but it takes time to get back into the swing of things. You have to ease back into it."

WNBA.com: That's interesting, because having spoken to other athletes who have gone through serious knee injuries like yours, they always say that the mental rehabilitation is almost tougher than the physical rehab. How hard is it to get back to a point where you're able to fully trust your knee again?

Buescher: "Absolutely, that's a big thing. You can go into rehab and do your exercises, your leg-lifts and squats… but it's a whole different thing to get out there on the court and play. It's not easy to get back to a point where you're out there playing and you don't have to think or worry about it. Only time can fix that issue… time and playing on it. But I'm getting anxious to start moving forward."