INDIANAPOLIS — Monique Billings did not practice Monday while recovering from a right ankle injury, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White said over a league Zoom call.
“The only update is that she didn’t practice today,” White said. “We’re going to keep evaluating it day by day, but knowing we have the full week (before a game), we’ll give her an opportunity to make sure that she’s as close to 100% as possible before we throw her out there.”
Billings injured her ankle Saturday in the first quarter of the Fever’s preseason finale against the Nigerian National Team. She landed on an opponent’s foot after fighting for a rebound, and stayed on the ground as the play went to the other end of the floor.
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She was able to get up and limp off the floor under her own power. She briefly sat at the end of the bench, then walked stiffly back to the locker room. She returned to the bench a couple minutes later, but did not return for the rest of the game.
Billings, who signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Fever in free agency, is projected to be Indiana’s starter at power forward. If she isn’t able to go by the beginning of the regular season, backup Myisha Hines-Allen will likely slot into the starting lineup at power forward.
The Fever open up the regular season May 9 at home against the Dallas Wings.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever veteran forward’s injury status for opener uncertain after missing practice
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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