One of the WNBA’s best rookies will miss her first game with knee injury

Gabriella Jaquez will miss her first game of the season with a left knee injury, the team announced Tuesday. Jaquez has been one of the league’s most productive rookies and has been critical to Chicago’s success in the early days.

The No. 5 overall pick has averaged 11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals, while shooting 42.9% from the field, 33.3% from the 3-point line, and 88.5% from the free-throw line.

Gabriella Jaquez is the latest Sky player to face injury

The Sky have already dealt with a slew of injuries in the early days of the season. Courtney Vandersloot remains sidelined while continuing to recover from an ACL tear she suffered last season, while Rickea Jackson is out for the rest of the season after tearing her ACL earlier this month. DiJonai Carrington has yet to make her season debut after suffering a foot injury last year.

The injuries have caught up; the Sky are 3-3 to begin the season, but they are 0-2 since Jackson went down. Jackson was the Sky’s leading scorer through the season’s first 4 games, averaging a career-best 18 points per game.

Without her, the team will increasingly rely on Kamilla Cardoso, who is averaging 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and Skylar Diggins, who is averaging 12.8 points and 5.4 assists per game. Jacy Sheldon, who is averaging 8.3 points and 2.5 assists per game, has also been crucial.

All three starters will have to shoulder even more significant responsibilities with Jaquez sidelined.

Azura Stevens will also be increasingly important; the former Los Angeles Sparks standout has only played one game this season as she recovered from a bone bruise in her left knee that she suffered during training camp. Stevens tallied 6 points in 16 minutes off the bench in her season debut on Saturday against the Minnesota Lynx.

Natasha Cloud, who has replaced Jackson in the starting lineup, will also take on a larger offensive role. She played a game-high 32 minutes on Saturday and will likely remain in the starting lineup as the season progresses. Stevens, Elizabeth Williams, Rachel Banham, and Sydney Taylor are all candidates for increased minutes with Jaquez sidelined.

Whether Jaquez’s injury is a long-term concern remains to be seen — but if she is to miss extended time, it’d be a huge blow for the Sky, as she’s been one of the WNBA’s top rookies thus far.