Sabrina Ionescu Sidelined; Liberty Begin Title Quest Without Star Guard
The New York Liberty will tip off their 2026 WNBA season shorthanded, as star guard Sabrina Ionescu has been ruled out for Friday’s opener against the Connecticut Sun due to a left ankle injury. The Liberty announced Wednesday that Ionescu will be sidelined for at least two weeks after suffering the injury in New York’s preseason finale on May 3, also against the Sun.
An MRI revealed no significant structural damage, but the team is taking a cautious approach with their franchise guard. Ionescu rolled her ankle early in the third quarter of that preseason game when she tangled with Connecticut forward Diamond Miller on a reverse layup. She walked off the floor under her own power but was later seen leaving the arena in a walking boot. Head coach Chris DeMarco confirmed she will be re-evaluated in 11 to 12 days.
It’s the same left ankle that ended her rookie season in 2020 after just three games. Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 38 games last season, earning her fourth All-Star selection. In her absence, rookie point guard Pauline Astier is expected to start alongside Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
The Liberty also listed forward Satou Sabally (cyst) and guard Rebecca Allen (left leg) as out for the opener. Raquel Carrera and Leonie Fiebich are unavailable due to international commitments, leaving New York without five players to begin the season.
Friday’s game at Barclays Center is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be aired locally on FOX 5.
Why It Matters: A New-Look Liberty Team Under Pressure
Ionescu’s injury comes at a critical juncture for a Liberty franchise that entered 2026 as one of the league’s title favorites. The team returns its core of Stewart and Jones and added Sabally in the offseason on a two-year, $1.67 million contract. Sabally, a three-time All-Star and the 2023 Most Improved Player, was expected to give New York a versatile scoring threat alongside Ionescu.
That pairing had special significance for fans in the Pacific Northwest. Ionescu and Sabally were teammates at the University of Oregon, where they led the Ducks to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2019 NCAA tournament. They were the top two picks in the 2020 WNBA draft — Ionescu No. 1 to the Liberty, Sabally No. 2 to the Dallas Wings — but had never played together professionally until now. The Liberty’s upcoming road trip against the Portland Fire on May 12 and 14 was billed as a homecoming for both players. That reunion will now be delayed at least until Ionescu returns.
“Obviously, one of our better players is going to be missing. It’s tough,” DeMarco told reporters. The Liberty are coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign in which they were eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs. That led to the firing of head coach Sandy Brondello and the hiring of DeMarco from the Golden State Warriors’ coaching staff.
Friday’s opponent, the Sun, is in transition itself. Connecticut finished 11-33 last season — the worst record in franchise history — and is set to relocate to Houston after the 2026 campaign. The Sun added veteran center Brittney Griner on a one-year deal; Griner averaged 9.8 points with the Atlanta Dream last season. Friday will be her debut for Connecticut.
Perspective: What This Means for the Liberty’s Season and the WNBA Landscape
Despite the early injury setback, the Liberty’s long-term outlook remains strong. Ionescu’s absence will test the team’s depth and give Astier valuable on-the-job experience at point guard. It also puts more pressure on Stewart, the two-time MVP, to carry the scoring load through the opening weeks.
The injury highlights the physical toll of the WNBA’s condensed preseason schedule. With only a few exhibition games to build chemistry, teams are especially vulnerable to early-season absences. For New York, integrating Sabally into the system without Ionescu on the floor complicates an already delicate process.
Broader trends in the league continue to drive attention. The WNBA is in a period of rapid expansion and fan growth. The Liberty’s 30th anniversary season comes as the league adds new franchises like the Toronto Tempo, who made a historic debut in front of an electric home crowd earlier this month. That kind of energy underscores how much the league has evolved since Ionescu’s rookie year.
Off the court, media coverage and fan engagement are at all-time highs. The Liberty have partnered with FOX 5 NY to stream 24 games for free, making the team more accessible to a wider audience. The team’s deep roster, even without Ionescu, still features one of the most formidable frontcourts in the league.
For now, the focus is on recovery. Ionescu is expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the season, which includes games against the Washington Mystics, Portland Fire, and potentially the Golden State Valkyries. If her re-evaluation goes well, she could return as early as the May 17 matchup against the Toronto Tempo.
In the meantime, the Liberty will lean on their depth and the experience of veterans like Stewart and Jones to keep the ship steady. As DeMarco put it, the team is taking a “selfless mentality” into the season — a mindset that will be tested from the very first tip.
Comments