Sabrina Ionescu Out at Least 2 Weeks After Rolling Ankle, Liberty Facing Season-Opener Without Star
The New York Liberty just caught a major break and a major problem at the same time. Four-time All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu rolled her left ankle in Sunday's preseason win over Connecticut, and while an MRI confirmed she avoided "significant injury," she is still sidelined for at least two weeks. So much for momentum heading into Friday's regular season opener against the Sun in Brooklyn.
How It Happened
Ionescu played just 16 minutes in the 79-67 victory at Connecticut before the injury sidelined her. She finished with six points and two assists in that game. The good news for Liberty fans: the damage could have been way worse. An MRI showed no serious structural damage, which is exactly what you want to hear when a star player goes down.
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Ionescu is the engine that makes this team go. Last season, the 28-year-old led the Liberty with 18.2 points per game, added 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds while also chipping in 1.3 steals across 38 games where she started every single one. Over her career with New York, she is averaging 16.7 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 181 career games, 177 of those starts. She was part of the 2024 championship team and remains one of the most important players on the roster.
Missing her for at least two weeks means the Liberty will open their 2026 regular season on Friday night in Brooklyn without their best playmaker. That is a brutal way to start a new campaign.
What Happens Next
The clock is ticking toward that Friday night opener at home against Connecticut. The Liberty need to figure out how to operate without Ionescu in the lineup, at least for the first couple of weeks. It is not ideal timing, but this is what depth and next-man-up mentality is all about. New York will hope to stay competitive until their star gets healthy.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.