WNBA: Lynx’s Augustus out indefinitely after knee surgery

By Jace Frederick
St. Paul Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Lynx all-star forward Seimone Augustus is out indefinitely after having arthroscopic surgery on her right knee on Friday.
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said she expects to have Augustus back in the lineup by mid-August.
“I’d be surprised if we didn’t have her then,” Reeve said.
Augustus was named an Western Conference All-Star Game starter earlier in the week. She is averaging 15.4 points per game this season. She scored 21 points in her last game, an 85-79 win at Connecticut on Tuesday.
Reeve said the knee has been a problem for Augustus for “probably more than a couple of weeks.” The coach said Augustus was having issues when she came home from her season in Russia for Christmas break, and it has progressed since then.
Reeve said Augustus probably could play if necessary, but the team wanted what’s best for her.
“We just want her feeling great,” Reeve said. “If she’s feeling great, that’s what’s best for our team.”
This isn’t Augustus’ first knee injury. She missed the bulk of the 2009 season after tearing the ACL in her left knee. She missed 10 games last year because of soreness in her left knee.
“Every day of her life that’s an issue, as long as she’s a professional athlete,” Reeve said. “Unfortunately for Seimone, she’s been there and done this.”
Augustus’ injury was the second the Lynx suffered this week. Guard Monica Wright had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee on Thursday, leaving the Lynx short on guards.
“It’s not the best week,” Reeve said.
“To lose two guards, we’re thin in that area. It’s where we started the season kind of thin, just having five players in the rotation. We’re back to that.”
Anna Cruz replaced Augustus in the Lynx starting lineup Friday against Chicago and figures to play extended minutes with Wright and Augustus out. Cruz, acquired in a trade this offseason, joined the team this month after playing for Spain in EuroBasket 2015. She was averaging five points since joining the Lynx.
“We don’t expect Anna Cruz to come in there and try to be Seimone,” Reeve said. “We want Anna to be Anna. We all have to just take our game and do a little bit more collectively. If we have that mind-set, we’ll be OK.”
One player who might step up in Augustus’ absence is fellow all-star Maya Moore. The Lynx went 7-3 in the 10 games they played without Augustus in 2014. Moore, the 2014 WNBA most valuable player, averaged 28.5 points in those 10 games.
Moore was averaging 18.8 points per game this season entering Friday’s contest.
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