Minnesota Lynx rookie Emma Čechová will miss the rest of the 2026 WNBA season after an ACL injury. Coach Cheryl Reeve addressed the news Saturday.
Minnesota Lynx forward Emma Čechová will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.
The Lynx announced the diagnosis Friday. Čechová was hurt Thursday in Minnesota's game at the Dallas Wings. An MRI confirmed the tear, and the team said she will undergo surgery.
"It's obviously gut-wrenching for everybody, certainly the player first and foremost," coach Cheryl Reeve said Saturday. "All we can do is be there for her in every possible way." Reeve said the team's focus now is on supporting Čechová and giving her time to process the injury before rehabilitation begins.
The injury came in only the Lynx's third game of the season. Čechová had been on the floor about 11 minutes, finishing with 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Čechová, 21, is in her first WNBA season. The Czech Republic forward signed with Minnesota in April as one of six players added on training camp contracts and spent last season with USK Praha in the Czech league.
She had not needed long to earn a rotation spot. Over Minnesota's first two regular season games, Čechová averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 69% from the field in about 20 minutes a night.
Her minutes had come behind starter Natasha Howard, with Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhász both sidelined. Collier is recovering from ankle surgery and is expected to return to basketball activities in early June. Juhász is working back from a right mid-foot sprain. Čechová's injury leaves the Lynx even thinner in the frontcourt.
"We're going to try everything. It's the hand that we're dealt," Reeve said. "We're just going to see what the game presents and where we can move to counter what's happening."
Minnesota still won the game in which Čechová was hurt, beating the Wings 90-86 for a second straight road win. Howard scored 26 points, 19 of them after halftime, and the Lynx improved to 2-1.
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