Injury-Hit Liberty Make Two Hardship Signings Before Opener The New York Liberty, entering their 30th season, faced a challenging start as they finalized their roster with two last-minute signings just days before their regular-season opener. The team, already missing several key players due to injuries and overseas commitments, secured Julie Vanloo and Aubrey Griffin under hardship contracts to ensure they had enough players for the game against the Connecticut Sun. Sabrina Ionescu, the team’s star guard, is sidelined with a left foot injury sustained during a preseason matchup against the Sun. Rebecca Allen, a forward, has a left leg injury, while Satou Sabally, a key free agent signing this offseason, is out due to a cyst. Coach Chris DeMarco described Sabally’s recovery as “day to day,” expressing uncertainty about her availability for the team’s upcoming three-game road trip. Ionescu is expected to miss a couple of weeks, while Allen may return in time for the weekend matchup. The Liberty also lack Raquel Carrera and Leonie Fiebich, who are fulfilling professional obligations abroad. Meanwhile, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who missed the previous season after recovering from a meniscus tear and undergoing surgery in March 2025, is set to make her first appearance in over a year. To address the roster shortfall, the Liberty acted swiftly, signing Vanloo and Griffin hours before the opener. Vanloo, a point guard waived by the Los Angeles Sparks, flew from Los Angeles to New York after being cut and landed at 1 a.m. local time. She spent the six-hour flight studying the playbook and attended the team’s morning shootaround to prepare.#new_york_liberty #julie_vanloo #aubrey_griffin #sabrina_ionescu #rebecca_allen
