SouthernWorldwide.com – A jarring incident occurred during a recent WNBA game, leaving fans and players concerned. Seattle Storm guard Jade Melbourne experienced a painful moment on Friday night during a matchup against the Golden State Valkyries.
The play unfolded as Valkyries guard Veronica Burton attempted to navigate around Melbourne. In an effort to secure the loose ball, Melbourne dove to the court. Unfortunately, Burton landed on top of her, causing Melbourne’s face to collide with the playing surface.
The impact resulted in Melbourne chipping one of her teeth. Her teammates immediately rushed to her side to ensure she was alright. Despite the visible discomfort, Melbourne managed a smile as she walked towards the bench, though she reportedly handed her coaches a piece of her chipped tooth.
The referees assessed a foul against Melbourne for the play. At the time of the incident, the Golden State Valkyries held a 43-39 lead. They ultimately went on to secure a 91-80 victory in the game.
Veronica Burton was a significant contributor for the Valkyries, tallying 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field. Janelle Salaun provided a strong offensive presence off the bench, leading the team with 20 points. Kaitlyn Chen also made an impact from the bench, adding 14 points to the Valkyries’ total.
For the Seattle Storm, Dominique Malonga was the leading scorer with 21 points. Zia Cooke supported the offense with 15 points.
Jade Melbourne had contributed 13 points to her team’s effort before the incident. She is currently in her fourth full season in the WNBA. Melbourne was originally selected by the Seattle Storm in the third round of the 2022 WNBA Draft. Hailing from Australia, she did not play in the 2022 season but made her debut for the Storm in 2023.
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Prior to rejoining the Storm, Melbourne spent the last two seasons with the Washington Mystics. In the previous season, she averaged 5.9 points per game across 43 appearances. The team is now awaiting news on the extent of her injury and her availability for future games.
