Tough summer for former Lady Vols

It’s been a tough summer in the WNBA health-wise for former Lady Vols. Add Candace Parker to the “out indefinitely” list after she underwent surgery for a fractured foot.

“Parker has been playing on a fracture all season, but after consulting with doctors, the only option for her to be healthy again and avoid further injury was to have surgery,” the Las Vegas Aces said in a statement. “She is out indefinitely, and will work her way toward getting healthy as soon as possible.”

The fact Parker entered the season with a foot fracture now explains her carefully managed minutes this summer. Parker averaged 23.6 minutes per game this season in Las Vegas after averaging 30.4 minutes over her career. A timetable for her return isn’t known, but foot surgery likely is a six-week recovery at a minimum, and the regular season ends Sept. 10. That opens the possibility of returning to the court for the playoffs later in September if healing goes well – and that’s always a big if with any surgery, so time will tell.

Parker posted Tuesday on social media: “Earlier today, I underwent surgery on a fracture in my foot. I’ve been playing on a fracture all season, tolerating the pain, but after consulting with doctors, the only option for me to be healthy again and avoid further injury was to elect for surgery. I’ll rehab and work my way towards being healthy as soon as possible. For my teammates for my circle; for my family; for myself.”

Before the season even started, Diamond DeShields was listed out indefinitely with a knee injury and has yet to play. Isabelle “Izzy” Harrison has been sidelined indefinitely due to a meniscus injury in her knee and subsequent surgery. She has yet to play in the regular season after participating in two preseason games in May.

Rae Burrell was waived during training camp in May by the Los Angeles Sparks but has been returned on two hardship contracts – used when a team is shorthanded due to injury or illness and signs additional players – and has performed well and will now finish the season with the Sparks.

Mercedes Russell is holding it down in Seattle this summer after missing nearly all of last season to have surgery for recurrent, atypical headache syndrome. Jordan Horston is having a stellar rookie season for Seattle but missed Tuesday’s game because of the death of her grandmother, Isabelle Dawson. Horston is in Columbus, Ohio, for the celebration of life today, July 26. She was able to slip home during the All-Star break last week to sing with her grandmother and tell her goodbye.

It’s been a tough summer for former Lady Vols. Lift them up.

Maria M. Cornelius, a writer/editor at MoxCar Marketing + Communications since 2013, began writing about the Lady Vols in 1998. She can be reached at mmcornelius23@gmail.com.