Rush will need a knee reconstruction after tearing her ACL and meniscus and bruising bone in her knee.
“I've spoken with my doctor, done the MRI and am just trying to work out where and when I'll have the surgery,” Rush said.
“It will be a long process, you're out for six or more months. I can't move my knee really, it is the size of a watermelon.”
The injury tops off a bad run for Rush who has already missed six weeks of the season with bone bruising to the knee.
The American will now decide whether she will go home to recover from her injury or remain in Townsville.
“I'm still trying to figure that out,” Rush said.
Coach Peter Buckle was disappointed Rush - who has played just seven games - would be unable to complete the remainder of the season. “Her strength and experience in the key way was good for us and Leah, Aneka (Davis) and Tanya (Smith) were really starting to rotate well and then this happened at a terrible time,” Buckle said.
“It does leave a hole there.”
Jo Hill, who has been absent due to personal commitments, will complete the remainder of the season.
Buckle said it was impossible to bring anyone else in to fill Rush's spot.
“Getting someone in is pretty impossible with registration deadline closed,” Buckle said. “It was a bummer for Leah and for the club but obviously there is not much we can do.”
The Fire have had a bad run of injuries this season with star player Rohanee Cox only recently returning from a knee injury.
Cox took the court for the first time this season during the team's double-road trip against Logan Thunder and Sydney Uni Flames last weekend. Forward Rebecca Schatz has also missed several weeks due to her ongoing back injury and Amy Lewis rested out last Friday's win against Logan with a calf injury.
But all players were back on court for the loss against Sydney Uni Flames (94-75). Despite the loss, Buckle was happy to have all his players on deck.
“It was great to have everyone back there even for a little while,” he said.
“We have Rohee back in, she's still building up her time, but it's great to have her back on the floor.”
Rush, who is on a one-year contract with the Fire, will take her time to decide whether to remain in Townsville. She admitted she had not decided what she would do after recovering but Buckle said they would be keen to talk to her again in 2010.
“We just need to get her on top of this injury, it's been a disappointing run for the club and it's now unfortunate Leah is out for the rest of the season,” Buckle said.
“Now it's about Leah getting her knee fixed up and on the road to recovery. The rest of the team needs to knuckle down and get a win on Friday night against Sydney because as a team we need to stay on task.”
Photo courtesy of Rob Sheeley
