Canadian basketball star Kia Nurse out for season with torn ACL in right knee
The Canadian Press | Posted: October 8, 2021 7:57 PM | Last Updated: October 9, 2021
'We'll have your back Kia,' says Phoenix Mercury following diagnosis
Canadian women's basketball star Kia Nurse will miss the remainder of the 2021 WNBA season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.
The Phoenix guard suffered the injury just 39 seconds into the Mercury's 93-67 loss to Las Vegas in Game 4 of their best-of-five WNBA semifinal series on Wednesday night.
"Can't control it all. It will take some time, but I'll be back," said Nurse in an Instagram post.
Nurse planted awkwardly when her layup attempt was blocked by A'ja Wilson. The 25-year-old from Hamilton clutched her right knee and screamed with pain before she was helped off the court.
WATCH | Canada's Nurse suffers injury in Game 4 action against Las Vegas:
The team said that the extent of Nurse's injury was determined following an MRI in Phoenix.
"We'll have your back Kia," the Mercury said on Twitter on Friday, hours before Phoenix beat the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 to advance to the WNBA Finals.
Nurse started in every regular-season game for Phoenix this year, averaging 9.5 points a game and 36 per cent shooting from three-point range. The two-time Olympian played her first three WNBA seasons for the New York Liberty.
"Wishing [Kia Nurse] a speedy recovery. We can't wait to see the comeback," tweeted Canada Basketball.