Australia’s Nigerian-born female basketball star, Ezi Magbegor has been ruled out of further action at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany due to an ACL injury.
Sports247 gathered that the injury has been considered quite serious to the extent that it will also prevent her from playing for her club this season in USA’s Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
This comes after the Seattle Storm centre tore an ACL in her right knee during Australia’s quarter-final qualifying win over Italy on Wednesday, thereby ending both her outing in the tournament and her hopes for the WNBA season.
Magbegor bowed out painfully in the first quarter after she hurt her right leg in a tango with Italian defender, Lorela Cubaj, after which the lanky lass collapsed immediately and had to be helped off the court.
Australia held on to win the encounter, despite nearly blowing a 26-point lead due to an apparent emotional setback the exit of Magbegor had on her teammates, gathered mournfully round the Nigerian-born star.
Just Women’s Sports reported, “Magbegor had been one of the best players at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, averaging 15.6 points on 60.5% shooting and 42.9% from three across Australia’s first three games as team captain.
“The incident adds yet another roadblock to Magbegor’s on-court journey (as) she already missed the first seven weeks of the Storm’s WNBA season with a foot injury.
“(She also) broke a bone in her face just three weeks after her 2026 debut. Across 14 games, she averaged 6.9 points and four rebounds — her lowest marks since her second year in the league.”
Sports247 gathered that recovery from a typical ACL injury takes nine to 12 months, meaning Magbegor could also miss the start of the 2027 WNBA season.
