Injuries continue to plague WNBA teams. The Sparks and Atlanta Dream are winless with key players sidelined

June 25th, 2024

Los Angeles Sparks Layshia Clarendon drives to the basket while being defended by Atlanta Dream forward Haley Jones during a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Long Beach, Calif. Dream defeated the Sparks 92-81. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

The injury bug has bitten several WNBA teams this season with both Los Angeles and Atlanta losing key pieces last week.

The Sparks will have to play without prized rookie Cameron Brink for the remainder of the year after she tore the ACL in her left knee. The injury also forced Brink off the U.S. Olympic 3×3 team as she was replaced by Sparks teammate Dearica Hamby.

The Dream are going to be missing Rhyne Howard for a bit too with no timetable for her return after she injured her ankle on Wednesday against Minnesota. Neither team has won a game since they went down, going a combined 0-6. Atlanta did get some good news with the return of Jordin Canada, who had been sidelined for the first part of the season with a hand injury. She made her season-debut in a loss to New York last Sunday.

While the Sparks and Dream seek to find ways to replace the production of their injured players, Las Vegas welcomed back Chelsea Gray. The point guard had been sidelined for the first part of the season with a leg injury she suffered in the WNBA Finals last year.

Gray made her debut last week and the Aces looked more like the two-time defending champions with victories over Seattle and Connecticut.

“I probably went through every emotion leading up to today,” Gray said of her return. “I was a little anxious all day. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out on that court. But the fans were amazing from the time I came out to warm up to the time I checked in the game. It was a rush and a feeling I missed a lot.”