WNBA Player Shows Off Gnarly Injury After Getting Elbowed In The Face
WNBA Player Shows Off Gnarly Injury After Getting Elbowed In The Face originally appeared on The Spun.
Not every hit and knock that WNBA players take results in simple bruising. Sometimes the impacts are a lot more visible - and gnarly.
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During yesterday's game between the Washington Mystics and the Las Vegas Aces, Mystics star Jade Melbourne took an elbow to the face by Aces star Chelsea Gray. Unfortunately, the point of Gray's elbow struck Melbourne right in the mouth and the results were very nasty.
Melbourne was visibly bleeding on the court as the strike caused her to lose part of a tooth. She had to leave the game while Gray was charged with a flagrant foul.
Fortunately, Melbourne appeared to be in good spirits when she returned to the court after getting medical treatment. But as cameras panned to her it was clear that the Australian basketball star and Olympic bronze medalist was now sporting a very noticeable gap in the front of her mouth.
WNBA fans were stunned by the scene and some believe that Gray owes Melbourne in a big way for doing that to her.
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"Chelsea Gray you need to pay for Jade Melbourne's dentist. Oh my god," one user wrote on X.
"So sad for her! I hope she's ok!" wrote another.
"Did I just watch Jade Melbourne of the Mystics get a tooth knocked out?" a third wrote.
"Nah the commentators wrong af how they reacted to Jade Melbourne."
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 26: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics helps teammate Jade Melbourne #5 after she was hurt on a play against the Las Vegas Aces in the first quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mystics defeated the Aces 94-83. (Photo by)Melbourne remained in good spirits even after the game as her teammate Georgia Amoore shared an Instagram photo of Melbourne giving two thumbs up to the camera.
"Bitta hard yakka x," Amoore wrote in the caption.
It wasn't all good though. Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson revealed that Melbourne needed to get stitches and there's no timetable yet on when she'll be able to return to playing.
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We hope Melbourne is able to make a full recovery.
Related: Caitlin Clark Took Elbow To The Face vs. Holy Cross
WNBA Player Shows Off Gnarly Injury After Getting Elbowed In The Face first appeared on The Spun on Jun 27, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.

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