Aces’ Kelsey Plum undergoes season-ending Achilles surgery

Las Vegas Review-Journal

4 years ago

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10, center) secures a loose ball over Washington Mystics forw ... — Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10, center) secures a loose ball over Washington Mystics forward Aerial Powers (23, left) and Washington Mystics forward Tianna Hawkins (21, right )during the first half of their WNBA playoff game at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Washington Mystics guard Kristi Toliver (20, left) draws a critical charging foul late on Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) during the second half of their WNBA playoff game at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) slices to the rim past Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud (9) and Washington Mystics forward Aerial Powers (23) in the fourth quarter of the WNBA semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at Mandalay Bay Events Center, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Aces guard Kelsey Plum underwent season-ending surgery on her left Achilles tendon Thursday, but the team said she was expected to make a full recovery.

Plum was injured last weekend while working out.

“So many people that love and support me and will stand by me through this, I’m grateful,” Plum tweeted. “I’ll be back, better than ever. Just wait on it (fist emoji).”

Where do I start….I tore my achillies tendon couple days ago. So many people that love and support me and will stand by me through this, I’m grateful. I’ll be back, better than ever. Just wait on it

— Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) June 11, 2020

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the operation, is the same surgeon who repaired Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart’s Achilles tendon last year.

Plum, a fourth-year guard and former No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick, averaged 8.6 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds last season. She was especially valuable during the playoffs, averaging 15.2 points, 7.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 52.9 percent on 3-pointers.

“Any time something like this happens, one player down, next player has got to step up,” Aces general manager Dan Padover said. “I think we’ve got some really good guard depth. … I feel like we’re positioned as well as you could be for some not-so-great news.”

The comeback is always stronger than the setback. You got this @Kelseyplum10 pic.twitter.com/Dmf6Yk5u05

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) June 11, 2020

The Aces have an open roster spot, and Padover said he has had preliminary conversations with free agents.

The WNBA is working on a potential 22-game season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, with no fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic. A typical season is 34 games, but the league originally had planned to play 36 this year after a new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union.

If the players agree to the proposal outlining the season, it will begin July 24, with the playoffs ending in October.

Review-Journal sports reporter Sam Gordon contributed to this report. Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.