WNBA Player News

May 6, 2026, 21:40
AustraliaSports

Introduction

Some WNBA teams have player injuries. They are changing their players before the 2026 season.

Main Body

Sami Whitcomb from the Phoenix Mercury has a knee injury. She needs a small operation. She will not play for four to six weeks. The Phoenix Mercury got a new player. They traded for Chloe Bibby from the Portland Fire. Bibby is good at shooting the ball. Sabrina Ionescu from the New York Liberty hurt her ankle. Doctors took a special photo of her leg. She is okay, but she cannot play in the first game.

Conclusion

The Phoenix Mercury have a new player. The New York Liberty wait for Sabrina Ionescu to get better.

Learning

🕒 Talking about the Future (Will vs. Cannot)

In this text, we see two ways to talk about what happens next. One is a prediction/promise and one is a limitation.

1. The "Will" Pattern When we know something is going to happen later, we use will + action.

  • She will not play → (Future: She is staying home for 6 weeks).

2. The "Cannot" Pattern When a rule or a problem stops someone right now, we use cannot.

  • She cannot play → (Problem: Her ankle is hurt).

🛠ī¸ Word Swapping: 'Get' and 'Got'

Notice how the word GET changes meaning based on the time:

  • Got (Past/Finished): The team got a new player →\rightarrow They have her now.
  • Get (Future/Process): Wait to get better →\rightarrow The healing is happening now.

Quick Tip: Use Got for things you already received!

Vocabulary Learning

team
a group of people working together
Example:The team practiced every day to win the championship.
player
someone who plays a sport
Example:The player scored a point in the last minute.
injury
damage to the body that hurts
Example:He had an injury in his arm and could not play.
season
a period of time for sports games
Example:The season starts in March and ends in October.
knee
the joint in the leg
Example:She had a knee injury after the fall.
operation
a surgery to fix a problem
Example:He will have an operation to repair his knee.
play
to participate in a game
Example:They will play in the final match tomorrow.
new
recently added or started
Example:The team signed a new player last week.
traded
to exchange one player for another
Example:The player was traded to another team for a draft pick.
shooting
to throw or kick a ball toward a goal
Example:Her shooting is very accurate.
ball
a round object used in many sports
Example:The ball bounced over the fence.
hurt
to cause pain or damage
Example:He hurt his ankle while running.
ankle
the joint between foot and leg
Example:The ankle is swollen after the injury.
doctor
a medical professional
Example:The doctor examined the player after the game.
photo
an image taken by a camera
Example:They took a photo of the team after the match.
leg
the lower part of the body
Example:She lifted her leg to stretch.
okay
in good condition
Example:After the treatment, he felt okay.
first
the earliest or beginning
Example:This is the first time I am playing in a final.
game
a competition or sport
Example:The game will start at 7 p.m.
wait
to stay in one place until something happens
Example:They will wait for the new player to arrive.
better
improved
Example:She is feeling better after rest.