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ACL heartbreak confirmed for Mavs star
SEN • March 30th, 2026 2:00 pm
The Melbourne Mavericks can confirm that vice captain and defender, Tara Hinchliffe, ruptured her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Saturday evening’s one-point loss to the Melbourne Vixens.
Hinchcliffe went down late in regulation time in the 72-71 defeat at John Cain Arena.
It is the third ACL injury the 27-year-old has sustained, but the first to her right knee.
Hinchliffe is now consulting with medical specialists to determine the best course of treatment and rehabilitation.
Mavs General Manager, Shae Bolton-Brown, said the entire club was devastated for Hinchliffe.
“Our hearts go out to Tara,” Bolton-Brown said of Hinchliffe. “You hate to see anyone taken out of the sport for a period of time in this way, but with what she has brought to the club – both on and off the court – in the few short months she’s been here, we honestly can’t remember what the club was like without her.”
“To lose back-to-back games by a single point, we often say something like that is heartbreaking, but really, what Tara is going through now is what has really hit us all hard.
“However, we’re here to support Tara in any and every way that she needs as she works through her rehabilitation and looks towards what’s next for her in the short- to medium-term. And whilst she will be greatly missed on court, we know she still is a vital part of our club, and will continue to be a highly-valued, strong leader off the court.”
The Mavs sit fifth on the SSN ladder and face Thunderbirds in round four this weekend.
