Washington Mystics guard Tayler Hill will miss the rest of the 2017 season after suffering an ACL tear in her right knee.
The announcement from the Mystics was released Sunday morning, approximately 36 hours after Hill was injured in a road game against the Indiana Fever. In the third quarter of that contest, Hill fell awkwardly after attempting a layup. She was carried off the court and required a wheelchair to get to the locker room.
The season-ending injury is a tough blow for Hill. Over the last few years, she worked relentlessly to return to playing form following the birth of her son, Maurice. She became a full-time starter last season and capitalized on the opportunity, making the league’s top 10 in scoring, free throws and three-point field goals.
Hill was averaging 13.3 points and 2.6 assists per game this season, but her biggest asset for the Mystics is using her quickness to get to the free throw line. Since 2016, Hill’s free throw rate has stayed above .400. This year, prior to her injury, the 26-year-old was third in the league in free throw shooting, hitting 93.8 percent from the line.
With Hill no longer available for Washington, look for an increased role from the likes of Natasha Cloud and Ivory Latta.