The volleyball rumor mill churned at full speed this week. An Instagram post by former Team USA and University of Texas star Destinee Hooker that indicated her readiness to return to the U.S. women's national team lit a firestorm of speculation around the athlete's status.

On May 6, someone under the username "MarionBerrySports" on the Reddit Texas page claimed that the University of Texas athletic department was pressuring USA Volleyball (USAV) and women's national team coach Karch Kiraly to welcome Hooker back to the program. The post included what appeared to be a contract between USAV and Hooker that established conditions for her return.

USAV released a statement on May 10 that denied all claims of an invitation being sent to Hooker and any involvement by the Texas athletic department:

"USA Volleyball refutes a 'post' recently circulated through social media and certain blog sites concerning Destinee Hooker and her training status with the U.S. Women's National Team. The 'post' is utterly false and has no basis in fact, including its claim of a conditional 'contract' outlining her relationship with the team. All references to involvement by the University of Texas, or any of its staff, are also fabrications."

Hooker also posted this on Twitter:

[tweet url="https://twitter.com/destineehooker/status/730139407878107137" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]

Hooker earned the Most Valuable Player distinction at the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix. She ranked second overall in scoring at the 2012 Olympics in London and was named the 2012 USA Volleyball Indoor Female Athlete of the Year. She then took the 2013 season off to start her family, and gave birth to daughter Keitany in January 2014.

In the two years since, Hooker has not rejoined the national team, supposedly due to relationship issues with Kiraly. The 28-year-old welcomed her second child on March 5 of this year, and has been frequently posting on social media about her journey to get back in playing shape.