Former Sky guard Jamierra Faulkner says she will not play in WNBA this summer after suffering another knee injury

Former Sky guard Jamierra Faulkner won’t be playing in the WNBA this summer as she recovers from her most recent knee injury.

Faulkner, who underwent her fifth knee surgery in four years earlier this month, announced her decision to sit out the 2020 WNBA season in a YouTube video posted Friday.

“To me, it’s for my sanity,” Faulkner said in the video. “It’s for my sanity and my own mental health as well as my physical health. And emotionally, it’s been a lot for me these past couple years, it’s been really, really tough.”

Faulkner announces decision to sit 2020 season out

Faulkner, a restricted free agent, has suffered a litany of knee injuries over the last few seasons. She missed the entire 2017 season after tearing her left anterior cruciate ligament. Then, her comeback attempt was cut short the following season after she tore her right ACL.

The Sky took another chance on Faulkner last season by re-signing her to a one-year deal. After missing the start of the season as she rehabbed her knee, Faulkner appeared in 13 games, averaging 1.3 points, .8 assists and 5.6 minutes.

Faulkner looked to get a fresh start this offseason while playing for Russian powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg in what she planned to be her first full season in two years.

“I felt like ... a month and a half ago, like I was finally back to Jay,” Faulkner said. “Like damn I feel good. I feel my speed came back, everything was coming back, like it was working out, I was figuring it out.”

But that was before the 27-year-old had another setback.

“I knew something was wrong,” Faulkner said. “I didn’t want to believe it.”

Faulkner’s fear was confirmed after an MRI showed she had a slight lateral meniscus tear in her right knee.

Faulkner remains in Chicago as she recovers from knee surgery she had earlier this month. She said she’s going to focus on her mental and physical health this summer and plans to return to the court by next winter.

“I’m gonna look like Michael B. Jordan when I come back to the game next offseason,” Faulkner said. “I can’t wait for that process because there’s going to be a body transformation.”