Injury has forced out the Launceston Tornadoes captain of the Australian Opals cup campaign in Spain.

Mansfield had succumbed to her troublesome foot just prior to the side’s cup warm-up clash against China.

The 28-year-old had been battling plantar fasciitis since she was carried off the court in a SEABL game against Sydney Uni Sparks in May. 

The damage is to the tissue on the foot’s arch connecting the heel bone to the toes.

Mansfield is heading back to Australia for treatment ahead of the WNBL season where she will join teammate Ellie Collins at Perth Lynx.

Australian coach Sandy Brondello was preparing best for the loss of Mansfield.

Rio Olympian Tessa Lavey has been named as the point guard’s ready-made Opals replacement in the squad.

“We are all so disappointed for Lauren, but we know Tessa will be ready to fight and do whatever is asked of her,” Brondello said.

Mansfield’s injury woes have dated back to the 2016 preseason when she sat out three months of the SEABL year following ankle surgery.

This year Mansfield played just nine out of 23 possible games for the Tornadoes.

Finals commitments for her club in Poland ensured Mansfield missed the opening five fixtures of the season.

A call-up to the Opals World Cup training camp had also ruled Launceston’s most experienced campaigner out of its first two finals, only to return for the grand final loss to Bendigo.

Mansfield had earned her Australian debut at last year’s Asian Cup in India.

She had a key role off the bench to lead team assists on the way to a silver medal in the 74-73 final loss to Japan.

That performance played a role in earning a recall to the national squad for the four-nation tournament in China back in July.