'It sucks': Ezi tears ACL, ending injury-stuck 2026

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Opals captain Ezi Magbegor has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, ending her FIBA World Cup and 2026 WNBA season.

Magbegor, 26, had scans on her knee after Australia's heart-stopping two-point win – 82-80 – against Italy in the quarter-finals qualifier on Thursday, September 10.

The Seattle Storm confirmed she had torn her ACL.

Australian head coach was Sandy Brondello said: "It’s sad.

"It really makes me emotional when I see anyone go down. Ezi has come back from an injury and now it’s another injury.

"It’s really unfortunate. She’s a key part of what we want to do.

"It sucks. That’s sport, isn’t it? She’s just got to have a great recovery and get back.

"She’ll get back; I don’t have a doubt about that.

"I’m just disappointed for Ezi that she’s going through another rehabilitation again."

Stand-in Australian Opals captain Steph Talbot added: "Heartbroken. Heartbroken for Ezi."

The Storm confirmed Magbegor's injury this morning (AEST).

"Seattle Storm forward/centre Ezi Magbegor suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) (Thursday) during Australia's qualifying final against Italy in the 2026 FIBA World Cup and will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season," the Storm said in a statement.

"In 14 games for the Storm this season after missing time for a foot injury and facial fracture, the four-time WNBA All-Defensive selection averaged 6.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 39.8% from the field.

"Additional information will be provided when available."

Magbegor averaged 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists in three games and four minutes against Italy.

Magbegor torn her ACL at the 5:51 mark of the first quarter of Australia's qualifying final against Italy.She drove into the paint for a layup on Italian forward Lorela Cubaj, hopped a few metres on one leg, then went down holding her right knee.

She did not return, and the Opals played out the rest of a tournament-defining night. Australia led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter before Italy scored 10 unanswered from the 4:06 mark, Costanza Verona levelling the game at 77-77 with a three-pointer inside the final 70 seconds. Zitina Aokuso answered with a layup through traffic to reclaim the lead at 79-77 with 24 seconds showing, and free throws from Alex Wilson and Isobel Borlase closed it out.

Borlase was the reason there was still a game left to save, finishing with 30 points, four rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes on 7-from-13 shooting, including 2-from-3 from three.

For Magbegor and Seattle it closes out a year that never really got going.

She played just 14 games this season because of a foot injury and the facial fracture that had already interrupted her winter, averaging 6.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 39.8 per cent from the field.

Her numbers well below the standard that made her a four-time WNBA All-Defensive selection and the anchor of a Storm defence she has held together since the 2020 championship. She sits 22nd on the league's all-time blocks list with 371, ninth among active players, and her career field goal percentage of .511 ranks 25th in WNBA history.