Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers left Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Lynx with a sprained left ankle. The injury happened in the second quarter during an 86-80 loss for the Sun.
Rivers drove toward the basket and had her shot blocked by Lynx forward Nia Coffey. She landed awkwardly on her left foot and rolled her ankle. Her shoe came off, and she stayed on the court in pain. Trainers and teammates helped her up, and she was wheeled off the court to the locker room. The Sun announced she would not return to the game.
The Lynx held on for the win behind strong scoring from players like Kayla McBride, who finished with 23 points. The Sun competed closely but could not overcome the loss of Rivers in the second half.
Rivers has been an important part of the Sun’s backcourt this season. Her absence for the rest of the game forced the team to adjust its lineup on the fly. The Sun will wait for more information on how long she might be out after the ankle sprain.
The game took place as part of the WNBA regular season schedule. Both teams remain focused on their playoff positioning. Rivers injury adds to the challenges for the Sun as they continue their season. Further updates on her status are expected in the coming days.