WNBA guard Kayla McBride suffers torn quad while playing in Turkey
Minnesota guard Kayla McBride had a famously emotional reaction to the Lynx's WNBA semifinals collapse against the 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 on Wednesday, Jan. 21. There is no timetable for her return.
McBride, like most players in the WNBA, is a free agent. The league and its players are currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. The 2026 WNBA schedule was released on Wednesday and the season is set to open on May 8, provided a deal is reached.
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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.
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 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.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 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.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 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.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 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 averaging 14.4 points and 2.5 assists a game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kayla McBride injury: WNBA guard suffers torn quad playing in Turkey
