Canada’s Kia Nurse out for remainder of WNBA playoffs after tearing ACL

Phoenix Mercury guard Kia Nurse passes the ball. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)

Phoenix Mercury star Kia Nurse will miss the remainder of the WNBA playoffs after suffering an ACL tear earlier this week.

Nurse was injured early in a Game 4 loss to the Las Vegas Aces after a collision with A’ja Wilson, who was defending against a Nurse lay-up attempt. The Hamilton native screamed in pain and had to be helped off the court.

“I think that threw them for a big punch,” Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said after the game. “I think it showed how important Kia Nurse is for us.”

The 25-year-old was fourth in scoring for the Mercury this season, averaging 9.5 points. She also led Canada into the Tokyo Olympics, averaging a team-high 13 points per game.

The Mercury and Aces will meet in a winner-take-all Game 5 Friday night for the right to face the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals.

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