No-one who watched the Steel’s narrow lost to the Pulse earlier this month will be surprised.
The 23-year-old fell awkwardly in the final minute of the game and a scan has revealed the worst.
She has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and torn medial collateral ligament in her left knee.
O’Connell is the second Steel shooter to suffer a serious knee injury. Promising goal attack Georgia Heffernan has also been ruled out for the season.
O’Connell will need corrective surgery before she can begin her recovery.
Coach Reinga Bloxham said it was tough to see another talented player succumb to injury.
"I’m absolutely gutted for her and she’s been working incredibly hard," Bloxham said.
"She was in a really good space and was improving with each game. It’s just a real bummer for her that this has happened now when she was on the upward spiral."
“She’s left a big gap that we are going to have to try and fill. But we know that we are here to support her in whatever she needs.”
O’Connell is doing her best to stay positive but it was upsetting to be facing the rest of the year on the sidelines.
"It is what it is and it’s not as bad as we originally thought so there are small positives," O’Connell said.
“The plan going forward is to get surgery and then focus on getting back on court. I know it’s going to be a long time which is unfortunate. But I’m going to work really hard to get back out there.”
The Steel will continue exploring options before confirming replacement players for both O’Connell and Heffernan, but training partner Kiana Pelasio and Beko League shooter Grace Namana played in the Steel’s last match.
