The injury caps a difficult year for Magbegor, who has dealt with multiple setbacks. She suffered a foot injury while playing for Australia at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul in March, forcing her to miss the first seven weeks of the WNBA season. Soon after returning, she fractured a bone in her face and missed another three weeks.
Magbegor struggled to establish consistency between those injuries. She appeared in only 14 games, averaging 6.9 points, four rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 39.8% from the field. Those numbers were her lowest since her second WNBA season. Her injury-shortened campaign also ends a run of four straight All-Defensive Team selections.
One positive is the security of the three-year, $3.75 million maximum contract Magbegor signed during the offseason. The deal is guaranteed through the 2028 season.
The latest injury occurred during Australia's dramatic quarterfinal qualifier against Italy on Wednesday. In the first quarter, Magbegor grabbed the ball and drove the length of the court before attacking the basket against Lorela Cubaj.
As she planted her right leg, Magbegor absorbed contact and her knee buckled. She managed to take several steps before falling to the floor, where she remained for an extended period while being attended to by Australia's medical staff. She was eventually helped up and escorted to the locker room.
Australia went on to build a 26-point lead without Magbegor but nearly surrendered it before securing a two-point victory when Italy missed a potential tying layup at the buzzer.
Magbegor's absence will have limited consequences for the remainder of 2026. Seattle has the league's worst record at 8-32 and only four games left when the season resumes. The Storm will miss opportunities to develop chemistry between Magbegor and their young core, but the impact on this season is minimal.
The bigger concern is 2027. ACL recoveries typically take nine to 12 months, meaning Magbegor could miss the beginning of next season and may not immediately return to her best.
Seattle signed her to be a leader for a developing frontcourt that includes lottery picks Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam. The trio played together for only 13 games this season and shared the court for just 20 minutes in a jumbo lineup.
Malonga and Fam give Seattle an exciting foundation, but another disrupted season could delay the team's plans. If Magbegor cannot return to her previous All-Defensive level, the setback could have significant implications for the Storm's long-term future.
