WNBA injury bug bites two rookies

Before the WNBA season began, fans knew they wouldn't be able to see some of their favorite players on the court. 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart ruptured her Achilles playing overseas. Other players sidelined include Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Sue Bird and Skylar Diggins-Smith — injuries or childbirth had knocked out some of the WNBA's best-known stars.

But there were rookies coming up who were ready to make things exciting, even with the stars gone. Unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten the WNBA's next round of stars as well.

Minnesota's Jessica Shepard was picked up in the second round of the draft and immediately helped out her team. During the Lynx loss to the Sparks on Saturday, Shepard landed awkwardly on her right leg. The team's worst fears were confirmed on Sunday when the news came. She had torn her ACL and would be out for the rest of the season.

During Sunday's Chicago Sky game against the Seattle Storm, first-round draft pick Katie Lou Samuelson was knocked down when taking a charge, something that has happened plenty of times before in her basketball career. This time it was different. She landed on her wrist and fractured it. A black cast covered her hand as she sat on the sidelines for the Sky's game on Tuesday. Samuelson is expected to be out for three weeks.

In case you were wondering what that sound was, it was a giant, collective groan coming from WNBA fans. This many injuries, and it's hard not to wonder if there is a curse on the WNBA. Perhaps it's a spell. Perhaps the entire WNBA broke a mirror while tripping over a black cat underneath an open umbrella inside.

Or perhaps it's this: Most WNBA players play overseas and don't get much of a break between their seasons in Europe, Asia or Australia and training camps for their WNBA teams. The WNBA draft was three days after the NCAA women's national championship. Shepard played in that game for Notre Dame. Samuelson played her final NCAA game just two days earlier for UConn.

There's no way to know if Samuelson's or Shepard's injuries could have been avoided. What does seem to be apparent is that the overuse that hits veteran players doesn't spare rookies, as they don't get much of a break to recover from grueling seasons.