“DWTS: Next Pro” Contestant Badly Injured By Fellow Dancer, Leading To Shocking Elimination
on Jul 28, 2026
One dancer’s dream came to an end on the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro after they were sent home in a shocking elimination.
The Dancing with the Stars spinoff is bringing dancers from all over the world together to compete for a chance to join the cast as a professional dancer this fall. The competition continued with its third episode on Monday, July 27.
The remaining 9 contestants were put to the test with a challenging group performance choreographed by guest judge Britt Stewart.
To make things even tougher, the aspiring pros had only a few hours to learn the routine before taking the stage.
Tensions were high, and every contestant was feeling the pressure. Not only did they have to do their best, but they had to work together as a team.
Unfortunately, one accidental misstep during the routine left a contestant injured. For one dancer, it meant their journey on the show came to a very unexpected end.
DWTS: Next Pro Episode 3: Contestant Faces A Brutal Injury To The Face
*SPOILER WARNING*
Rehearsals were going smoothly as Britt helped the dancers learn the routine. Then, during one of the moves, contestant Natalie Jolley was accidentally hit in the eye when Stephanie Sosa swung her arm up, bringing practice to a sudden stop.
It was clear that Jolley was seriously hurt. She was in tears, and when she moved her hand away from her eyes, it was already swollen.
Shortly after, an ambulance arrived, and Jolley was taken to the hospital to be checked out.
“I don’t know what happened. The dance was moving so quickly, and Natalie got hit in the face,” Sosa said to the camera. “I just hate being the one that caused that. Like, I just feel horrible. I know she’s worked really hard to be here, and I hope she’s okay.”
@dwts50 Stephanie Sosa accidentally hits @Natalie Jolley in the eye during rehearsal! #dwts #dancingwiththestars #dwtsthenextpro ♬ original sound – dwts50
Jolley’s condition was still being monitored, and she wasn’t able to return to rehearsals the next day.
When it came time for the contestants to perform their routines for judges Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas, Jolley had no choice but to sit the performance out.
The dancers were divided into two groups. Sosa, Erik Linder, Selena Hamilton, and Tristen Sanders (group leader) danced a pasodoble. Adele Zaikman, Allen Genkin, AJ Pritchard, and Nina Mayster (group leader) danced a tango.
Mayster’s team impressed the judges the most, earning them a spot in the next round and keeping everyone on their team safe.
In the end, Sanders and Hamilton were the two dancers who failed to stand out the most, and they were put in the bottom two.
Right as they were anxiously waiting to find out who would be eliminated, Shirley Ballas revealed a major twist. She told them that neither dancer would be going home.
“Tonight was the last dance for… neither of you,” Shirley said. “Following Natalie’s injury, she was not medically cleared to compete, and so, she has been eliminated.”
The show’s host, Robert Irwin, then welcomed Jolley out to the stage to say her goodbyes.
“I’m really sad and disappointed that I won’t be able to continue in this competition, but the most important thing is just to take care of my body so that I can dance again,” she said. “I love all of you so, so, so much and I’m going to miss you all. Thank you so much.”
The next episode of DWTS: Next Pro will air on August 3. New episodes air every Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, and stream the next day on Hulu.
