The Dallas Wings Announce Season-Ending Knee Surgery for Karima Christmas-Kelly
The Dallas Wings officially announced Karima Christmas-Kelly will undergo season-ending knee surgery on Tuesday.
The team announced Christmas-Kelly is scheduled for knee surgery "to address an osteochondrial defect" in her right knee.
Christmas-Kelly will have the procedure take place in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with an approximate recovery time of six months, according to team officials.
"Karima will be truly missed this season," said head coach Fred Williams. "Her mental toughness and leadership is something that can't be replaced. We support her 100 percent on her decision to have the surgery on her knee. Knowing her, she will bounce back strong and continue her basketball playing career in the WNBA. She will continue to be a strong voice for us on sidelines to help develop our young team."
Christmas-Kelly averaged 9.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in her six starts for Dallas this season.
In Christmas-Kelly's absence, Dallas announced the signing of Teana Muldrow. The Wings have been granted a roster hardship exemption, according to team officials.
Muldrow was drafted in the third round of the 2018 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm after averaging 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in her senior season at West Virginia.
Wings forward Glory Johnson recently returned to the team's rotation after missing six games due to injury.