In the New York Liberty’s first three games of the season, Essence Carson was averaging 17.7 points, six rebounds and six assists a game before her world came tumbling down last week in a very physical game against the Atlanta Dream.
With 3:56 left to play in the third quarter of the game, in which she had scored 21 points, she was on the move to the hoop when her left knee buckled under her as she tumbled to the court, screaming in pain. The former Rutgers University star was carried out of the Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), the Liberty’s home away from home until the Garden completes their renovations. Carson is done for the season with an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.
First-year Liberty head coach and former Detroit Pistons great Bill Laimbeer said the veteran Kate Smith would be moved into a starting position role. “We’ve lost a very active player,” he noted.
The Liberty, 3-2, coming off their 76-67 win over Atlanta, will host the Connecticut Sun on Friday.