Aces' Kelsey Plum Undergoes Surgery on Achilles Injury; Will Miss 2020 Season
Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum underwent surgery Thursday on her Achilles tendon, Aces general manager Dan Padover announced.
As a result, Plum will miss the entire 2020 season, which is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 25-year-old tweeted she "tore my achillies tendon couple days ago."
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Plum averaged 8.6 points and 3.0 assists for the Aces in 2019. She raised her game in the postseason, averaging 15.2 points and 7.8 dimes over five games.
The California native was set to hit restricted free agency in 2021 but signed an extension with Las Vegas in May. According to High Post Hoops' Howard Megdal, she's due to earn $175,000 in 2021 and $180,250 in 2022.
Between her strong finish to the 2019 season and a new deal heading into this year, it looked like Plum was finally ready to assume a leading role for the Aces. Despite being the NCAA Division I women's all-time leading scorer and the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, the Washington product is still waiting for her breakthrough in the WNBA.
The Aces aren't lacking in star power, especially after signing Angel McCoughtry, but they'll feel her absence nevertheless.
Plum's 45 made three-pointers were second on the team behind Kayla McBride (62). Las Vegas collectively hit 187 threes, the lowest in the league.
The front office has done little to address what was clearly a need coming into this offseason. McCoughtry is a proven scorer, but she's only a career 28.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc. A roster already lacking consistent perimeter threats will now be without one of its best options in that regard.
Given the likely length of her recovery period, Plum still might be sidelined at the start of the 2021 season as well.
Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart ruptured her Achilles while playing for Dynamo Kursk in the EuroLeague Women championship in April 2019. She didn't play again—albeit in limited minutes during an exhibition—until this January.
When John Wall underwent Achilles surgery in February 2019, the Washington Wizards said he'd need around 12 months to make a full recovery.
