The Tall Ferns will be without star guard Charlisse Leger-Walker for their upcoming Olympic qualifiers in China next month.
Leger-Walker injured her lower right leg in her latest college game for Washington State, just hours before being named in the Tall Ferns squad.
The 22-year-old told 1News the injury is more serious than first feared and she won't be joining the team in China.
She suffered the blow in the second half as Washington State upset over number two ranked UCLA.
Leger-Walker had planned to put her college season on hold to help the Tall Ferns break their 16-year Olympic exile.
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Next month, they play China, France and Puerto Rico for a shot at Paris, with a third-placed finish enough to see them through.
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