Indiana Fever forward Temi Fagbenle out at least 2-3 weeks with left foot injury
The 31-year-old forward suffered a foot injury Tuesday in a loss at home to the LA Sparks. Erica Wheeler is also out for Thursday's game v Storm.
Indiana Fever starting forward Temi Fagbenle suffered a left foot injury that will sideline her for the next 2-3 weeks, the team announced on Wednesday. After that time, she will be re-evaluated.
The injury was sustained during Tuesday’s loss at home to the LA Sparks.
Fagbenle is averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game playing nearly 24 minutes. Now in her fourth WNBA season — but first since 2019 — she played a career-high 32 minutes against the Sparks.
So the team must now carry on without Fagbenle — one of the more productive players to start the season who has impressed most with her leadership and accountability — for at least 6-8 games.
Moreover, reserve guard Erica Wheeler has already been ruled out for Thursday’s home game against the Seattle Storm due to personal reasons. So that’s two players averaging at least 17 minutes per game.
The Fever are 1-8 with three games over the next four days, which closes out a grueling start to their season with 11 games in 20 days.
Fagbenle moved into the starting lineup just two games again at Las Vegas. And now without her in the short-term, NaLyssa Smith is expected to return to her starting role next to Aliyah Boston.
She’s not only been praised by coach Christie Sides and her teammates for her leadership and being a great teammate, but she was also the first teammate to get on a great wavelength with rookie Caitlin Clark.