Phoenix Mercury guard Lexi Held diagnosed with a pneumothorax (right lung injury), no timetable for return
The Phoenix Mercury's Lexi Held suffered a partially collapsed lung against the New York Liberty last Thursday. There is no timetable for her return.

PHOENIX — Phoenix Mercury guard Lexi Held has been diagnosed with a pneumothorax, a right lung injury, the team announced on Thursday.
The team said she suffered a partially collapsed lung but is “making good progress in her recovery.” There is no timetable for her return.
Held collided with New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart when both were diving for a loose ball in the third quarter of the Mercury’s win on June 19.
Held exited with a “rib” injury with 4:36 remaining and did not return. Tibbetts said after the game she was “in a lot of pain.” She subsequently did not travel with the team to Chicago and remained in New York for observation.
After she was cleared from the hospital, she was not permitted for air travel, so she took a three-day plus train journey with Mercury physical therapist Ashley Lea.
Before Held suffered the injury in New York, the 25-year-old rookie had played in all 14 of the Mercury’s regular season games.
She is averaging 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 20.7 minutes per game. She is shooting 39.1% from the field and 31.3% from 3.
Known for her defensive presence, Held is tied for second in the WNBA in games with at least three steals this season (four).
Her 21 steals also is second among all rookies and places her tied for 14th in the league.
During a six-game streak from June 3 to June 18, Held scored 82 points, making it the first time a Mercury rookie has scored at least 80 points during a six-game span since Brittney Griner did so in 2013.
She had a season-high 24 points on June 5 vs. the Golden State Valkyries, which are the third-most by a WNBA rookie this season, and the most by a Mercury rookie since Griner had 26 points in 2013.
How awful! Glad she’s on the mend and wishing her a full recovery.