Washington Mystics guard Jade Melbourne faced a shocking, gruesome injury during Thursday night’s game when she was elbowed in the mouth by Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray. The incident occurred in the first quarter as Melbourne attempted to drive past a screen from Gray. The force of the elbow caused her to lose part of a front tooth, and as she bent over in pain, the tooth appeared to fall onto the court.
Melbourne, who remains a key player for the Mystics, was taken off the court and assessed for injuries. She was joined by her team on the bench for the remainder of the game, and while the injury caused her some discomfort, she showed no signs of serious concern. The WNBA has seen an uptick in physical plays this season, with Melbourne’s injury standing out as one of the more severe incidents.
Despite the initial shock of the injury, Melbourne appeared in good spirits after the game. Teammate Georgia Amoore shared a post on Instagram that showed Melbourne smiling with a bloodied mouth and chipped tooth, accompanied by two thumbs-up. Mystics coach Sydney Johnson confirmed that Melbourne required stitches and emphasized her determination to remain positive in the face of the incident.
Melbourne, an Australian basketball player who earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, is averaging 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists this season. It was not immediately clear if she would miss any additional time due to the injury, though it was noted that she would not be playing in the second half of the game.
While the Mystics secured a 94-83 win without Melbourne, the team’s leading scorer, Brittney Sykes, was also sidelined for the second straight game due to a lower leg injury. The situation highlights the challenges teams face this season with the increased physicality in the WNBA.
As a result of the incident, Gray was assessed a flagrant foul, emphasizing the league’s efforts to manage the intensity of the physical interactions on the court. The episode has sparked discussions about the balance between competitive play and player safety in the WNBA.