JJ Quinerly’s fantastic rookie season has come to a halt. It was derailed by an injury that will keep her out for the remainder of the season. The former Mountaineer star was an unlikely candidate to make the Dallas Wings’ roster as a third-round pick, but exceeded expectations. She had a fantastic rookie season, but is looking forward to her sophomore campaign in the WNBA. Read more: JJ Quinerly Suffers Season-Ending Injury.
JJ Quinerly Suffers Season-Ending Injury
JJ Quinerly suffered an injury during the Wings’ game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20. She sprained her ACL in her left knee and is going to miss the remainder of her rookie season. She is expected to make a full recovery, and additional updates will be provided as needed, according to the Dallas Wings.
Outstanding Rookie Season
Quinerly was a big part of the Dallas Wings this season as a third-round selection. She played in 34 games, starting 13 and averaging 15.4 minutes per game. She averaged 6.5 points, 2.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game.
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It is no surprise to WVU fans that Quinerly was a defensive pest, and that translated to the WNBA. She also took her consistent scoring to the next level. She scored double-digit points in eight games, including a season-high of 18 points against the Phoenix Mercury on July 7.
What Is Next for Quinerly
The loss of Quinerly is a tough blow for the Wings. They are 9-30 this season, and relied on their rookies like Paige Bueckers, Quinerly, and Aziaha James, who played meaningful minutes for them. The Wings are a promising young team on the rise.
Dallas head coach Chris Koclanes said Quinerly’s absence is a significant blow for the team.
“Very much so on both sides of the ball. She’s another pace creator and tempo changer who gets our offense going and flowing,” Koclanes said. “Defensively, her ability to pressure the ball and speed other teams up is valuable. We definitely miss her presence on the floor.”
Quinerly made an overseas commitment to play for a Greek women’s basketball club. She signed with P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki of the Greek A1 Women’s Basketball league to play after the WNBA season. That is now up in the air depending on her recovery. She is not going to rush back before she is 100% healthy.
She sprained her ACL, so it is not a complete tear, which is promising news. It is unclear whether surgery or the severity of the injury is the cause. The Wings are not in the playoff hunt and likely decided to take it slow with Quinerly’s injury, as there is no need to rush her back. Her rookie season came to a disappointing end, but she demonstrated considerable promise and potential throughout it. She should make a splash in the league in her second season as she rests and acclimates to the physicality of the league.
