Unlike the NBA, where players usually get time off until Thursday after the All-Star break, WNBA players are right back to work two days in. So not so much of a ‘break’ if you think about it. But Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman was omnipresent for the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday. She and her teammate Courtney Williams, who sported pink hair, had started a live stream on Twitch months ago, and so they livestreamed the All-Star weekend, giving fans a glimpse of behind the scenes.

But just days after hosting a 72-hour livestream and entertaining everyone during the All-Star festivities with her Studbudz partner, disappointment struck in the game against the Chicago Sky. It was a routine win for the Minnesota Lynx over the Chicago Sky, which had Ariel Atkins missing at the Target Center. But the result was overshadowed by one moment…

Near the end of the third quarter, Natisha Hiedeman collided with the Sky’s Maddy Westbeld. The Lynx guard went down hard, rolling on the floor and hitting the hardwood with her fist. Her close friend, Courtney Williams, rushed over to check on her and quickly covered Hiedeman’s head with a towel as two staff members helped her off the court and into the tunnel. It wasn’t the kind of situation Coach Cheryl Reeve had hoped to deal with, but one that was out of her hands.

Hiedeman did return to the bench for the fourth quarter, but she never got back on the court. To make matters worse, she didn’t get up from the bench even once, not even to celebrate the big plays in the final quarter. It was clear the injury was serious. And as expected, the Lynx did share an update. They confirmed that the guard had suffered a left ankle injury!

Hiedeman played 15 minutes before exiting, finishing with 4 points and 3 assists—the only downside in an otherwise perfect outing for the Lynx. Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier each added a game-high 19 points, while Collier also managed a team-high 8 rebounds during the game. Courtney Williams also had a big impact, dishing out a game-high 7 assists. And the cherry on top? Every Lynx starter finished in double figures.

That said, head coach Cheryl Reeve did offer some insight into the severity of the injury.

Coach Cheryl Reeve offers a Natisha Hiedeman injury update

Natisha Hiedeman, since joining the Lynx from the Sun, has established herself as one of the key players off the bench for the franchise. She has been averaging close to 18 minutes a game for the Lynx while contributing 7.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. Her injury will no doubt be a big loss for the team. But the guard is staying positive. Coach Cheryl Reeve was asked for an update on the guard, and this is what she had to say during the post-game interview: “She said the same thing she says to everything “I’ll be fine coach”… so I don’t (know the severity) so I’ll listen to the trainer when he shares.”

It’s clear that a competitor like Hiedeman would always want to play regardless of the circumstances. But let us not forget that she has been susceptible to ankle injuries prior as well. For instance, in 2022, she had been ruled out of a game because of ankle issues. Then in  June 2024, she came off a sore ankle issue and won her team a game against Dallas at Target Center.

But now the real question is: Will she be back before the game against the Aces, or will the best team in the league have to go on without one of its guards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.