7:25 PM ET
Kelly CohenESPN
WASHINGTON — Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne is considered day-to-day and was ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Wings.
Delle Donne returned to WNBA play less than a week ago after a 22-month absence following a pair of back surgeries.
Delle Donne was pulled after just 12 minutes of play Thursday night because of “precautionary” reasons, according to coach Mike Thibault. He said something “didn’t feel right” after Delle Donne came away from fighting for a rebound in the second quarter of that game.
The 2019 WNBA MVP had not played since October 2019 before her season debut last Sunday.
“We said from the start, we’re going to err on the side of precaution that if it doesn’t feel right or comfortable then we probably won’t do it,” Thibault told reporters ahead of Saturday’s game against the Wings.
Delle Donne is feeling better than she was after Thursday’s game when she was pulled, Thibault said.
Washington also is without center Tina Charles, who will miss the next three to four games because of a left glute strain. Charles, who leads the WNBA in scoring at 25.4 points per game, suffered the injury Sunday in an 85-78 loss to Seattle.
Entering play Saturday, the Mystics are 9-15, in 10th place and fighting for a playoff spot. The top eight teams make the playoffs.