Imagine this. You work as hard as you can on something you love for months and months. Practicing, learning and perfecting it, getting ready for something big. And then, all of a sudden, it stops. You can't do it anymore. You have no control over the fact that this passion of yours has been taken away. And now you must wait.

A season-ending injury is a nightmare for any athlete. A senior season, a breakout season, a comeback season, can all be put on hold by making just one wrong move. For four student-athletes on the Nevada Wolf Pack women's basketball team, this has become a reality. It's a reality that hit the entire team right off the bat, even before the season started.

"It got to a point where every game that we played I was waiting for someone to tear their ACL," said junior guard T Moe. "I know that's bad to say but that's what it turned into. If we got through a game without someone getting hurt, it was a good day."

Moe tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), among other things, during a preseason scrimmage just prior to what was supposed to be her comeback year. Moe became the only player in program history to record a triple-double in a game, the first game of last season. Three games later she suffered a torn ACL, ending her season. Moe was granted a medical redshirt and was more than ready for her return to the court. Now, she sits on the bench during practice and games, doing what she can for the team.

"It feels like I've been sitting out more than I've been playing," she said. "When I'm on the sidelines I try to be a vocal leader and a student coach because I physically can't do anything."

Senior Julia Shelbourn had what was supposed to be her farewell season taken away in only the second game of the season as she planted wrong after taking a pass. As she starting falling to the ground, the captain began pointing to her knee before hitting the court. She too underwent season-ending knee surgery.

"It hit me right away because I had done it my senior year of high school, too," Shelbourn said. "I was just saying in my head 'another senior year, are you kidding me?' so it hit me right away."

For junior Ashlee Jones, who tore her ACL during the team's trip to Hawaii, a season-ending injury is something completely new.

"I've never experienced pain like this before," said Jones. "T Moe texted me after we were in Hawaii and just said 'What happened?' It's been good though having these guys around because if I'm struggling or have questions, they're right there to help me out."

She said she now realizes just how much an injury can take away.

"I've been on crutches since Dec. 17 and I'm still not able to walk," Jones said. "It's those little things that we take for granted, like walking or putting your shoe on. That's just some of the stuff I've been struggling with, but it's getting better."

Since learning what it's like not being able to play, Jones feels what many athletes have felt before.

"I would never say I took the game for granted, but when I have to just sit and watch and I'm not able to play, it puts everything in perspective," said Jones. "It drives me nuts knowing I can't be out there."

If Jones is the injury rookie, Mariah Williams, unfortunately, is a veteran. Williams, who came onto the team last year, has not seen action on the court since Dec. 2, 2014 with her long-term knee injury. She said she's had to find other ways to stay focused on the sport.

"It goes back to high school, I was injured a lot then," she said. "When it comes to staying focused I'm trying to watch and learn from some of the mistakes made out there. I think about if I was playing, how I would handle that situation and try to visualize myself in that role. I'm trying to put all my effort into school now too, it's a way to distract myself."

The rehab process began almost immediately for these athletes with physical therapy starting almost the very next day after surgery. Surrounded by their coaches, athletic trainers and fellow players, the road to playing again gets going quickly.

"The recovery process has been good," said Shelbourn. "Every day we go in for therapy and try to get stronger, try to get full extension and try to get full flexion back. We're all at different stages, but it's good to have each other around to push one another and to see where we want to be."

"I'm at that point where I feel like I can do everything, even though I can't," said Moe. "My goal right now is to start running in about seven weeks."

Even though they can't contribute physically, each of the upperclassmen say they've started contributing to the team in a different role.

"I think we're all trying to be positive role models and help them [teammates] out," Shelbourn said. "From the sidelines during games we can see where the openings are. It's a different set of eyes for us on the bench."

"In the beginning, we were a little more lenient with the new players," added Moe. "When the freshmen were making mistakes we would think 'It's okay, they're young.' But now it's to the point where they have enough experience, so we're just asking them to step it up."

Overall the optimism is there for the injured players, and next season can't some soon enough.

"This will help for next season," said Jones. "The people who are playing now are going to be back next season so this is getting them ready for what next year has to bring. A normal freshman wouldn't have this much playing time so now they can use all of that experience toward next season."

Moe agreed, and their thoughts and feelings have been validated with the improvement by the Pack from nonconference to conference play this season.

"I look at the players we have and the experience they're getting. Coming back next year, we're going to have so much experience as a team and be ready to play."

Moe is also known for wearing a different pair of socks each game, what she has deemed 'pretty socks.' When asked if she's found additional time to work on her socks her face lit up with readiness.

"Oh yes. I have about 30 brand new pairs and I will not open them until game time."