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The WNBA tooth fairy is on the way to Jade Melbourne.
What made for a viral moment Thursday night involved the Mystics’ guard and the Aces’ Chelsea Gray.
During the first quarter, Melbourne was assigned to guard Gray. As Gray tried to get past a screen and make a move towards the basket, her elbow accidentally hit Melbourne in the face, causing significant impact.
Melbourne immediately held her hands to her mouth as the hit led to a swollen bloody lip and a cracked tooth.
The 22-year-old Aussie was quickly led to the locker room and later returned to the bench.
Gray was subsequently assessed a flagrant foul for the incident.
Melbourne’s teammate, Georgia Amoore, shared a photo after the game on her Instagram story.
Despite Melbourne’s early exit from the game, the Mystics secured a 94-83 victory on the road against the Aces. The win was fueled by a standout performance from rookie guard Sonia Citron, who scored 21 points during the game.
It was Washington’s third consecutive win and it puts them at .500 (8-8), and in sixth place in the WNBA standings.
Melbourne is averaging 6.5 points on 40 percent shooting from the field across an average of 23.5 minutes per game. It is her third year in the league and her second in Washington.
The Storm drafted Melbourne 33rd overall in 2022, but she did not play in the league that year and instead participated in the Australian league, WNBL, as part of the Canberra Capitals.
She has been a member of the team since 2021 and averaged 16.3 points, 7.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in the 2023-24 season.