LOS ANGELES -- Rae Burrell has made her return to the court.
Burrell is due to play her first home game of the season on Thursday against the Minnesota Lynx after returning to action in their previous two-game road trip. She got hurt in the season opener in San Francisco after landing awkwardly on her leg defending in the perimeter. She had only played 41 seconds in that game against the Valkyries.
She was said to be out 6-8 weeks. And then in the seventh week, she was back on the practice floor. On practice in July 1st, Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said that she would be back by the game against the Fever (the 5th).
Burrell would be back on the game before. She played on the 3rd against the Liberty.
“I’m feeling great, actually,” Burrell said on practice on Tuesday. “I feel like I really just tackled my rehab and the staff did a great job of doing what was necessary to get me back as soon as possible but also just as healthy as possible, and I feel great.”
Burrell took a charge during that practice session which she laughed off.
“It feels so good,” Burrell answered when asked about how it was playing again. “With injuries, as athletes, it’s so hard to be on the sideline but I feel like I was able to embrace what my role was on the sideline. Just staying engaged but it’s not feeling like being back on the court.”
With the way she’s played in the last two games, it seems like she’s all the way back. Her nonstop energy has helped the Sparks whether she’s flying high for the rebounds, shooting threes, and slashing to the rim. But Burrell is still adjusting to playing again.
“Yeah, definitely conditioning,” Burrell answered when asked about adjusting back. “I got up and down a little bit today and I was a little bit winded. But that's just going to come as I keep playing so I'm not too worried about it.”
Burrell scored five points and grabbed two boards in under 12 minutes against the Liberty (a loss) and then had two points and two rebounds just under 11 minutes against the Fever (a win). As the season goes on, look for Burrell to have a bigger role at the wing position as she gets acclimated back into the rigors of the league.
“She brings life wherever she’s at,” Coach Roberts said. “Into an interview or into lunch or onto the court. And that’s a great boost for us.”