SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Silver Stars forward Erin Buescher tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in her left knee Wednesday afternoon during the first minute of the Silver Stars game at Phoenix.
Team doctors will repair the torn ligament within the next two weeks, and Buescher will miss the remainder of the 2007 season, but is expected to return for the 2008 season.
Buescher, the current Western Conference Player of the Week, drove to the basket one-on-one against Phoenix guard Cappie Pondexter in just the second San Antonio possession of the game, then collapsed under the basket, clutching her knee. San Antonio, 12-6 and first in the Western Conference, went on to win the contest 87-77.
“Erin has been playing at an all-star level throughout the first half,” said Head Coach and General Manager Dan Hughes. “She has so much energy and enthusiasm. We look forward to seeing her back on the court in 2008.”
During the first half of the season, Buescher has been an integral part of the Silver Stars lineup, posting some of the best numbers of her WNBA career at 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She ranks fifth in the league in steals per game and is among the top 20 league leaders in 19 different statistical categories. In just the last four games, Buescher has averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. In Saturday’s 80-73 win over Seattle, she had a career-best 27 points and five steals.
