Overview
- The Portland Fire said on Friday that an MRI confirmed Barker sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament and that she will miss the rest of the 2026 WNBA season and undergo surgery.
- Barker left Portland’s July 22 loss to the Dallas Wings after four minutes with a non-contact left-leg injury and was helped to the locker room because she could not put weight on the leg.
- Barker had become a regular starter and was enjoying a breakout year, averaging 10.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.
- Her season-ending injury removes a primary defender and one of Portland’s most efficient scorers at a time when the rebooted Fire have lost 12 of 17 games and sit outside the playoff picture.
- The tear adds to a recent cluster of ACL injuries around the league, including Fire teammate Sania Feagin and Chicago Sky guard Rickea Jackson, increasing short-term roster and medical concerns for multiple teams.