Phoenix guard Kia Nurse tore her right ACL, the Mercury announced Friday. She will miss the rest of the 2021 season.
The injury came just 39 seconds into Game 4 against the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday when she planted awkwardly during a fast-break layup attempt against A'ja Wilson. She spent some time down on the court in pain, screaming and holding her right knee, before being helped off the court, unable to put weight on it.
The Mercury went on to lose to the Aces 93-67. Game 5 in the semifinal series is Friday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The winner will advance to face the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals.
Nurse started in every regular-season game for the Mercury, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists. She was averaging 8.3 PPG in the 2021 playoffs, shooting 45.5% from behind the arc.
In January, Nurse was traded by the New York Liberty to Phoenix as part of a blockbuster three-team trade. New York drafted Nurse, a UConn standout, 10th overall in 2018.