Not often does one player come in and change an entire program, but that’s exactly what Georgia Amoore did for the Kentucky Wildcats. At just 19 years old, she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world for the love of basketball. “One of the most electrifying players in the country!” declared commentator Ryan Ruocco, moments after Cathy Engelbert called her name as the No. 6 pick in the WNBA Draft for the Washington Mystics. Her success at Kentucky saw her get drafted! What she set out to achieve when she left Australia–she finally did it. Her dream had become a reality. But just when everything seemed to be falling into place, it all came crashing down.

Amoore spent four successful seasons at Virginia Tech, which included a trip to the Final Four and an ACC regular season championship. Enjoyed a successful season and Kentucky, where she averaged 19.6 points and 6.9 assists per game. She broke the Wildcats’ single-season assist record and set the school record for the most games with at least seven 3-pointers in a season.

The Washington Mystics have officially announced that rookie guard Georgia Amoore has torn the ACL in her right knee during practice, putting her much-anticipated WNBA debut on indefinite pause. It’s a heartbreaking setback for both the rising star and the franchise. “Amoore and the team will examine treatment and rehabilitation options and provide an update as appropriate,” the Mystics shared in a statement.

Amoore’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time–just three days before she was set to make her professional debut in a preseason matchup against WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis. Talk about bad luck! But beyond just one player, her setback shines a light on a troubling trend in women’s sports–the alarming rate of ACL injuries among female athletes. It’s a sad reality that continues to plague the game.

Georgia Amoore’s ACL injury raises alarms in the women’s sports industry

ACL injuries are becoming alarmingly common in women’s sports. In fact, research shows that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to suffer ACL tears than their male counterparts. Just in recent years, big names like JuJu Watkins, Cameron Brink, and Paige Bueckers have all faced the same devastating setback as Georgia Amoore. It’s a trend that’s hard to ignore–and the question is, why is this happening so often?

Dr. Christina Allen, chief of Yale Sports Medicine and an expert in ACL surgery, shed some light on why these injuries are more common among women. A big part of it comes down to anatomy and how athletes are trained. Women typically have different quad-to-hamstring ratios–they tend to be more quad-dominant–which can increase strain on the ACL. Structural differences like alignment and foot pronation also play a role.

But that’s not all. Dr. Allen pointed out that historically, there’s been less focus on core strength, balance, and agility in girls’ training programs. Recovery from a torn ACL typically takes anywhere from 8 to 12 months–and fans will be hoping Georgia Amoore can bounce back strong and be ready to go by next season.