Minnesota guard Kayla McBride famously had an emotional reaction to the Lynx WNBA semifinals collapse against Phoenix Mercury last fall.
Now, her 2026 WNBA season could be in jeopardy after she suffered a torn quad muscle in her right thigh while training in Turkey with Fenerbahçe Opet, the team announced Wednesday (Jan. 21). There is no timetable for his return.
Advertisement
McBride, like most WNBA players, is a free agent. The league and its players are currently negotiate a new collective agreement. THE 2026 WNBA Schedule was released on Wednesday and the season is expected to open on May 8, provided a deal is reached.
1 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
1 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
2 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
3 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury passes the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11).
4 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.
5 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) makes a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22).
6 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with her teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
7 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.
8 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound in front of DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
9 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Match 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
10 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces goalkeeper Jewell Loyd (24) looks to deflect a loose ball from Phoenix Mercury goalkeeper Sami Whitcomb (33).
11 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
12 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after scoring a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
13 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
14 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
15 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
16 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
17 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
18 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
19 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces goalie Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury goalie Kahleah Copper (2).
20 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces goalie Jewell Loyd (24) faces Phoenix Mercury goalie Kahleah Copper (2).
21 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
22 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts watches the first quarter.
23 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks watch.
24 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Match 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts to Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
25 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon watches.
26 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Play 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
27 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Match 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
28 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
29 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
30 / 30
The best photos from the Aces vs. Mercury matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
McBride was drafted No. 3 overall out of Notre Dame in 2014 by the San Antonio Stars. She has been with the Lynx since 2021. A five-time WNBA All-Star, the guard averaged 14.4 points and 2.5 assists per game.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Kayla McBride injury: WNBA guard suffers torn quad while playing in Türkiye
