Natasha Mack injury update: Mercury starter out weeks with bone bruise

Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack has emerged as an early candidate for Most Improved Player, but her career-best year will be put on hold due to an untimely injury.

The Mercury announced Monday, June 29 that Mack will be sidelined at least two weeks after sustaining a bone bruise in her left foot, dealing the team’s injury-riddled lineup another blow. Guard Sami Whitcomb (left knee) has yet to make her debut this season, while guard Monique Akoa Makani (left hamstring) has missed the last four games.

The news of Mack’s injury follows an Instagram post she shared over the weekend, which showed her wearing a boot on her left foot while using a scooter to get around. Mack will be reevaluated by the team in 2-4 weeks.

Here’s what we know about Mack’s injury:

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It’s not clear when Mack suffered the injury.

She last suited up for the Mercury in the team’s 86-77 loss to the Indiana Fever on June 22, where she recorded four points (2-of-7 FG), seven rebounds and three turnovers in 21 minutes of play.

“For us to be good, (Natasha) Mack needs to be good,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said following the loss. “I don’t think she played her best tonight … she knows that, but we need her to be really good … we got to have her on the floor.”

She returned the Phoenix after the loss to get her foot evaluated, subsequently missing the Mercury’s win over the Fever in Indiana on June 24 and Phoenix’s victory over the Toronto Tempo on June 27.

Mack is averaging career-highs in points (9.2), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.5) and field goal percentage (60.9%) in 18 starts this season, the most of her career. She’s reached double-digit scoring in 10 games this season and recorded five double-doubles.

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.