Ezi Magbegor, center for the Seattle Storm, sustained a torn ACL in her right knee during Australia’s quarterfinal qualifying match against Italy at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Wednesday. This injury prematurely ended both her participation in the tournament and her 2026 WNBA season.
Details Behind the Ezi Magbegor Injury
The injury occurred early in the first quarter when Magbegor planted her right leg while contesting a play with Italian defender Lorela Cubaj. She collapsed immediately and required assistance to leave the court. Despite this setback, the Australian team maintained their composure and secured the victory, even though they nearly squandered a 26-point lead.
Before the injury, Magbegor had been a standout performer for Australia, serving as team captain and averaging 15.6 points per game on an impressive 60.5% shooting accuracy, including 42.9% from beyond the arc across the first three games of the World Cup.
This incident compounds the challenges Magbegor has faced on the court recently. She missed the initial seven weeks of the Storm’s season due to a foot injury, and then, just three weeks after making her 2026 debut, suffered a broken facial bone. Over 14 games this year, she posted averages of 6.9 points and four rebounds per game, marking her lowest output since her sophomore season in the league.
Recovery from an ACL tear typically spans nine to twelve months, suggesting that Magbegor may also be sidelined at the start of the 2027 WNBA season as she works toward rehabilitation.