Brionna Jones, a four-time All-Star, suffers an ACL tear

Four-time WNBA All-Star Brionna Jones has suffered a torn ACL while playing overseas, dealing a major blow both to her club season and her immediate basketball future.

Aug 19, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones (24) shoots from the free throw line during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

As negotiations continue between the WNBA and the WNBPA over the league’s next collective bargaining agreement, one outcome appears increasingly inevitable: a player earning more than $1 million in annual salary for the first time in league history. Securing better pay that more accurately reflects the league’s rapidly growing revenues remains a central priority for the players’ union.

Last season highlighted the scale of the problem. Even marquee names such as Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark earned base salaries that were widely viewed as disproportionately low compared to the WNBA’s surging popularity and financial expansion. As a result, many players — including established stars — have continued to seek additional income during the offseason.

To bridge that gap, players often turn to alternative leagues once the WNBA schedule ends. Unrivaled, a domestic three-on-three competition, has become a new option over the past few years, but a significant number of players still choose to play internationally, where salaries are typically higher.

Brionna Jones falls into that category. The veteran forward has been competing in Europe with Czech powerhouse USK Praha during the WNBA offseason. However, the physical demands of year-round basketball have now taken a serious toll.

According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Jones tore her ACL while playing overseas and will miss the remainder of USK Praha’s season. The injury comes at a particularly difficult time, as Jones is currently a WNBA free agent. She is expected to return to the United States to undergo reconstructive knee surgery.

Jones’s injury underscores the risks many players take by competing abroad in order to make ends meet. While international leagues provide crucial financial support, they also extend the wear and tear on players’ bodies, increasing the likelihood of serious injuries.

If a new collective bargaining agreement is finalized on schedule, the upcoming WNBA season is set to begin on May 8. Jones’s situation serves as a stark reminder of why improving player compensation is so critical. Without salaries that allow athletes to focus solely on the WNBA season, many will continue to feel compelled to play year-round — often at significant personal and physical cost.

Her injury adds urgency to ongoing labor talks, highlighting the human consequences behind the numbers and reinforcing the push for a league structure that better protects and rewards its players.