Spain lose Lyttle, Ndour likely to step in for Rio Olympics

ATLANTA (Rio 2016 Olympics Games) - Sancho Lyttle will not represent Spain at next month's Rio Olympics after suffering an injury to her right foot at the weekend.

The Atlanta Dream power forward left last Friday night's 78-72 loss against the Indiana Fever with an apparent ankle injury late in the second quarter and did not return.

On Sunday, the Dream confirmed that the Spanish international suffered a break of the fifth metatarsal in her right foot, and is out indefinitely. 

As of Friday, the 1.94m center was leading the WNBA in steals (2.2 per game) and ranked fourth among all players in rebounding (8.5 boards per game).

With the Olympics just three weeks away, Lyttle's injury deals a major blow to a Spanish team heading to Rio looking to go as far possible in the competition.

At last month's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), Lyttle led Spain with team-highs of 15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as they secured one of the five tickets on offer for the 2016 Olympics.

Senegal-born Astou Ndour, a 1.96m center, is likely to replace Lyttle.

Ndour was named the 2013 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year

The 22-year-old, who currently plays for the WNBA's San Antonio Silvers, last played for Spain at EuroBasket Women 2015, contributing 12.7 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds per contest as Spain finished third.

In Rio, Spain will play in Group B against Canada, the USA, Senegal, Serbia, and China.

FIBA