WNBA Injury Report: Sky's Rickea Jackson Out for Season as Sparks Lose Brink and Plum

As the 2026 WNBA season approaches its midway point, the league's injury report has grown significantly, forcing several championship contenders to navigate the sudden loss of foundational talent.

The most severe update comes out of Chicago, where the Sky announced that forward Rickea Jackson will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.[1]

Jackson's season-ending absence is a devastating blow to a Chicago squad that currently allows 88.6 points per game on defense and relies heavily on her two-way versatility to anchor their frontcourt.[1]

Compounding the Sky's rotational challenges, guard DiJonai Carrington has also been ruled out indefinitely while managing a foot injury, leaving Chicago's backcourt dangerously thin.[1]

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Sparks are managing their own sudden injury crisis, losing two of their primary offensive engines in the span of 48 hours.[2]

Forward Cameron Brink has been sidelined with an ankle injury and will be re-evaluated by the team's medical staff in two weeks.[2]

The Sparks' backcourt took an even heavier hit, with guard Kelsey Plum suffering a lower left leg injury. Plum is expected to miss at least a month, with the medical staff scheduling her next evaluation in four weeks.[2]

The dual absences of Brink and Plum force Los Angeles to lean heavily on veterans like Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby to carry the scoring load as they fight to maintain their positioning in the highly competitive Western Conference.[2]

Up north, the expansion Toronto Tempo received an unexpected scare of their own. Star guard Marina Mabrey was a late scratch against the Phoenix Mercury due to neck spasms.[3]

The injury occurred during pregame warmups, just days after Mabrey tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with an explosive 53-point performance against the Sparks.[3]

Originally slated to start in the Tempo's inaugural game at Scotiabank Arena, Mabrey was replaced in the starting lineup by Kia Nurse. While the spasms are not considered a long-term issue, her absence temporarily halts one of the hottest offensive streaks in the league.[3]

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces are dealing with a depleted bench unit as they chase the top seed. Both Dana Evans and Janiah Barker have been ruled out with leg injuries, testing the depth of head coach Becky Hammon's rotation.[1][4]

With Chennedy Carter also battling an illness, the Aces will have to rely even more heavily on MVP frontrunner A'ja Wilson, who continues to post dominant numbers despite the shrinking supporting cast around her.[1]

As the playoff race intensifies, these injuries will test the resilience of rosters across the league, forcing head coaches to adjust their rotations and scheme around the absence of star power.[5]