ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dallas Wings center Li Yueru will miss the rest of the season after spraining the ACL in her left knee against the Los Angeles Sparks last week.
The team said Tuesday the 26-year-old from China is expected to make a full recovery.
Li was injured in a 97-96 loss to the Sparks on Friday. She averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in her third WNBA season, which was split between Seattle and Dallas. Li was traded in June.
The injury to the 6-foot-7 Li is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Wings, who are mired near the bottom of the standings for a second consecutive season. They had the No. 1 pick in the draft this past spring and selected star guard Paige Bueckers.
While Bueckers is a heavy favorite to be named WNBA Rookie of the Year, the Wings entered Tuesday with the third-worst record in the league.
Li's injury comes with high-scoring guard Arike Ogunbowale sidelined by a right knee injury. The team said Tuesday that Ogunbowale, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP, has tendinitis and will re-evaluated in the coming weeks.
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Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) looses the ball over Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists and Julian Champagnie had 13 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs led by 39 points early in the fourth quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points as Milwaukee suffered its third straight loss.
It was the Bucks' second straight lopsided loss after being booed at home during a 139-106 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Wembanyama startled the sellout crowd at the Frost Bank Center and it had nothing to do with his freshly shaved scalp.
He returned to the court after making knee-to-knee contact with Antetokounmpo's left leg under the Bucks basket with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. Wembanyama dropped to the court in pain before rising and hobbling unassisted in a half sprint toward the locker room.
The 7-foot-4 center from France suffered a hyperextended knee on Dec. 31 in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in a similar play. He returned to watch from the bench on New Year's Eve but missed the next two games.
Wembanyama returned to the bench at the close of the first quarter Thursday, but this time he went back on the court to start the second quarter.
Wembanyama had 11 points, six rebounds and a blocked shot while playing 12 minutes, 27 seconds in the second quarter.
San Antonio outscored Milwaukee 35-26 during the second quarter in taking a 66-53 lead at the half. The lead expanded to 37 points in the third quarter as both teams sat their starters to open the fourth.
Kyle Kuzma had 18 points and Bobby Portis added 13 points for the Bucks.
Bucks: At Atlanta on Monday night.
Spurs: Host Minnesota on Saturday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) scores past San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) and guard Ryan Rollins, second from right, battle San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, left, and guard De'aaron Fox, right, for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is blocked as he drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) scores over Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
