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Elena Delle Donne may not be able to start the 2019 season on Saturday at the Connecticut Sun due to a jammed left knee, according to Ava Wallace of The Washington Post.
#Mystics injury update: Elena Delle Donne’s status for Saturday’s opener at CT is up in the air - EDD jammed the left knee that’s been giving her trouble since last season; there’s some swelling. Hasn’t practiced all week. Thibault said he’ll decide by Fri. Powers (leg) is out.
— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) May 22, 2019
The left knee has given the forward some trouble since last summer. In the 2018 WNBA semifinals, she had a bone bruise in a game against the Atlanta Dream.
If Delle Donne doesn’t play on Saturday, expect Emma Meesseman to take her spot as the team’s starting power forward. Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thbault originally planned on having her come off the bench due to her upcoming absence for EuroBasket. However, she is essentially guaranteed to start if any other starter from the 2018 team can’t play for whatever reason.