Yaxel Lendeborg Injury News: Will Michigan Basketball Star Play In National Championship Game?

INDIANAPOLIS – Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg said he feels great and is expected to "give it a go" in the national championship game after he was injured in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4.

Coach Dusty May provided an update to his player on Sunday, April 5, after Lendeborg suffered a sprained MCL of his left knee and an injured ankle, per CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson. Lendeborg had an MRI earlier in the day and all imaging came back clean and he'll be receiving treatment.

"I'm sure he'll give it a go tomorrow, but that'd be entirely up to him and the medical staff," May said.

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Lendeborg didn't speak with media, but was seen inside the stadium walking around without much of a limp. When asked how he feels, he said, "great" and he didn't fall during the day.

Yaxel Lendeboeg walking pretty well today, said he feels good pic.twitter.com/S0mcSx4L0I

— jordan mendoza (@jordan_mendoza5) April 5, 2026

Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. added Lendeborg has done a "tremendous job" with his recover and the team knows "nothing's going to stop Yax being available and being able to play on Monday."

"Right now it's just about how comfortable does he feel and I think that he's more than excited to be in this one," Gayle added.

While concerning, Michigan was able to continue without its star as it dominated Arizona in the semifinal to punch its ticket to the national championship game. After the win, Lendeborg told reporters he is "playing Monday night regardless" against Connecticut, going for the Wolverines' second national championship, and first since 1989.

"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," May said. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."

What happened to Yaxel Lendeborg?

Lendeborg got hurt with just under nine minutes left in the first half of the semifinal game, appearing to have twisted his ankle after stepping on the foot of Wildcats forward Motiejus Krivas while going to the basket for a layup.

He left the game and headed to the locker room, not returning for the remainder of the first half despite coming back to the bench. Lendeborg went through warm-ups out of halftime and despite walking gingerly, he started the second half and played roughly nine minutes, knocking down two 3-pointers in the second half.

The Wolverines had a commanding lead over Arizona, up by at least 20 points for nearly all of the second half. There was questions why May let a clearly injured Lendeborg play, and the Michigan coach said it had to with not wanting a late comeback from the No. 1 seeded Wildcats.

"You're playing Arizona, one of the best teams — statistically, the number one or two team all year in the country and you're up 20 with 10 minutes left, with eight and a half minutes left.  We didn't feel quite as confident as you guys did that we could just put the kids to bed.  And he came in and Elliot [Cadeau] was in foul trouble, and so he just held it down," May said after the game.

Michigan will play UConn on Monday, April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:50 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg injury update, MRI results before national championship game