Ezi Magbegor will miss the rest of the WNBA season after tearing her ACL while playing for Australia in the FIBA Women’s World Cup, the Seattle Storm announced Thursday.
Magbegor suffered the injury Wednesday, when Australia edged Italy 82-80 to advance to the tournament quarterfinals. Australia has since been eliminated, losing to Spain 89-66 on Thursday.
As for Magbegor, a statement from Basketball Australia confirmed she will require surgery.
“The Australian Opals will wrap their arms around Ezi and we have no doubt in her character and resilience as she enters a period of recovery,” the governing body said in a statement.
Magbegor, 27, has missed large stretches of the Storm’s season due to a foot injury and a facial fracture. She did not make her season debut until July 2 and has played in 14 games (nine starts), averaging 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds.
In seven WNBA seasons, spent entirely with Seattle, Magbegor has averaged 9.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She is a one-time All-Star and four-time All-Defensive Team honoree.
The Storm are 8-32 — last place in the WNBA — and will not make the playoffs. They have four games remaining when the league returns from its World Cup break.
–Field Level Media
