WNBA All-Star Ezi Magbegor is likely to miss the start of the 2026 WNBA season.
On Monday, the Seattle Storm announced the forward/center suffered a right foot injury while playing for Australia during the 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers in Istanbul, Turkey. A timeline for Mabegor's return was not immediately available. Per the team, an update on her progress should be made available in 6-8 weeks.
Magbegor's injury comes at a time of major change for the franchise and weeks before the start of the new season.
Training camp for the Storm began on April 19, and Seattle's first preseason game is April 25 (8 p.m. ET), against the Golden State Valkyries. The Storm open the 2026 season at home, hosting Golden State at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (10 p.m. ET).
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)2018: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)1 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)1 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)2 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)3 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)4 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)5 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)6 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)7 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)8 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)9 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2018: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)10 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)11 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)12 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)13 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)14 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)15 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)16 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)17 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)18 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)19 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)20 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)21 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)22 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)23 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)24 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)25 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)26 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)27 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)28 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)29 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)30 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)During WNBA free agency, Seattle lost starters Brittney Sykes, Gabby Williams, Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike. Sykes signed with Toronto, Williams moved on to Golden State, Diggins joined Chicago and Ogwumike returned to Los Angeles, where she spent 12 seasons before joining the Storm in 2024. The Storm also lost several bench pieces, including veterans Erica Wheeler and Nika Mühl.
Now, the Storm are rebuilding and will look to move forward with new pieces, such as veterans Natisha Hiedeman and Stefanie Dolson, plus rookies Awa Fam, Flau'jae Johnson and Taina Mair.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA All-Star suffers foot injury playing overseas before 2026 season