WNBA Injuries: Shakira Austin is out for the first two playoff games
Shakira Austin misses the Washington Mysticsand#039; first two playoff games.
As the 2023 WNBA playoffs begin, several injuries continue to plague teams. Take the Washington Mystics, who are without Shakira Austin for the first two games against the New York Liberty.
Just Women’s Sports keeps track of the most important WNBA injuries and provides a timetable for player returns when available. This report also includes athletes who will not participate in the 2023 WNBA season due to pregnancy or maternity leave. Injured WNBA players who could return this season
Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics
Sophomore center Shakira Austin went down June 25 with a hip strain. An MRI showed the injury did not require surgery, but he was out for nearly two months.
Austin bounced back in mid-August with a win over Chicago, but was limited in his minutes. Weeks later against the Aces, he re-injured the hip that kept him out for nearly two months. He will miss at least the first two games of the Mystics’ first-round series against the New York Liberty. Candace Parker, Las Vegas Aces
The two-time WNBA MVP is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a broken left foot, the Las Vegas Aces announced in July.
According to the team, Parker played the entire season with a broken bone, but a recent consultation with doctors indicated that surgery is the best option to restore health and prevent further injury.
After signing with Las Vegas in the offseason, Parker started the first 18 games of the season for the Aces, averaging 9.0 points per game.
WNBA players returning to the court
Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics
The two-time WNBA MVP injured her left ankle on July 9, but returned on August 18. The 33-year-old started this season fully healthy for the first time in nearly three years after dealing with back problems that sidelined him for a significant amount of time.
NaLyssa Smith, Indiana Fever
A stress fracture in her left leg was expected to keep the 22-year-old out for at least two weeks, the Fever reported on July 11.
Smith returned on Aug. 8 and has been a key role for Indiana since then, including a career-high 30 points in Sunday’s overtime win against Dallas.
Layshia Clarendon, Los Angeles Sparks
Clarendon returned on 22 July, appearing for the first time since 9 June. A partial ligament tear in the right plantar of their foot kept Clarendon off the floor.
Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner has been out since June 13th with a hip injury, but returned on the 24th against the Storm. in June and collected 11 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.
Ruthy Hebard, Chicago Sky
Hebard gave birth to her son Xzavier Reid in April. The Chicago Sky forward returned just 12 weeks later.
“Everything just showed me how much I love the game,” Hebard said a week before his July 9 return. “I love being with my teammates. I love everything about basketball. Most of all, I just want to get back.”
Aari McDonald, The Atlanta Dream
The 24-year-old guard tore his labrum on Jan. 2 against the Las Vegas Aces. in June, Dream announced on June 6. He returned to action on July 20.
Diamond Miller, Minnesota Lynx
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft sprained her right ankle during Minnesota’s loss to the Dallas Wings on May 30. The Lynx said in a statement that Miller “will be reevaluated over the next several weeks and further updates will be released as they become available.” Miller scored a career-high 18 points in his return on June 27.
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
The Mercury were without Diana Tauras for three games (all losses by double digits). Taurasi returned on June 24, playing 19 minutes and recording 13 points and 4 rebounds against Seattle.
Injured WNBA players are out for the season
Brionna Jones, Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun reported on June 24 that Brionna Jones suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the June 20 game against the Seattle Storm. June and June 23 had a successful operation.
“Although this season has not been how I envisioned it, I am determined and ready to move forward into the next phase of my recovery and rehabilitation. I know I have an amazing support system behind me and I will come out the other side stronger than ever,” Jones said in a statement.
Before the injury, Jones was tied for ninth in the league in offensive rebounds (3.2/game), fifth (1.8) and ninth in field goal percentage (57.1).
“We are thrilled for Breezy. Everyone who knows him knows he is a wonderful person, teammate and leader for our group,” Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White said.
“On the court, he worked hard to establish himself as a cornerstone of our franchise and played great basketball. … As a team, we know we have work to do and are committed to the ultimate goal of winning a championship in a way that honors Breezy.
Diamond DeShields, Dallas Wings
DeShields missed the regular season with a knee injury and is out for the season.
Although the 28-year-old guard appeared in the preseason game against Chicago on May 5, he did not travel to the team’s second preseason game as a precaution due to knee soreness. It is unclear when he will return this season.
Rebekah Gardner, Chicago Sky
Gardner will miss Chicago’s playoffs. He missed most of the season after undergoing foot surgery in the May 26 blowout loss to the Washington Mystics. Isabelle Harrison, Chicago Sky
The 29-year-old forward missed the season with a knee injury. The Sky revealed in May that Harrison is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus. Harrison, who signed as a free agent with Chicago in February, played six seasons in the WNBA.
Li Yueru, Chicago Sky
He will miss a season with a non-WNBA injury,
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