Leonie Fiebichs injury recovery is testing her patience with Liberty, FIBA World Cup status on line
Liberty wing Leonie Fiebich said she’s “not at all” a patient person.But her tolerance is being tested as each day passes and she’s unable to play.Fiebich has been sidelined since a 99-86 home win over the Minnesota Lynx on July 3 after suffering a left foot injury.She logged 36 minutes in that game but said she “kind of took a bad step” at one point.
She had some soreness the next day but still got in the gym to shoot.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.
However, the soreness didn’t go away.It was severe enough that she underwent an MRI exam and other scans to evaluate the issue.Speaking with reporters Wednesday for the first time since her injury, Fiebich declined to share her official diagnosis.Regardless, the test results were enough for her and the team to decide it was best for her to rest indefinitely.“I’m feeling good,” she said before the Liberty’s 95-94 loss to the Sky as their final game before the All-Star break.
“Making progress, getting better every day.”Fiebich still doesn’t have an official timeline to return.The uncertainty of the situation brings into question her status for the German national team in the 2026 FIBA World Cup, which is scheduled for Sept.
4 through Sept.13.Fiebich said she was “of course” concerned about whether she’ll be available for the World Cup when she tweaked her left foot.“You don’t want to be injured at any stage, right, especially in a World Cup year,” she said.
“But more so, like, I hate to be on the sidelines as every athlete … not being able to help the team.”Fiebich declined to answer whether she would be playing through the pain right now had this not been a World Cup year.She did say, however, that she’s being extra cautious given the World Cup.“With the World Cup coming up, I wouldn’t say I prioritize it, but it’s a really important tournament for us,�...