Sabrina Ionescu Set for Season Debut Against Dallas Wings Sabrina Ionescu is preparing to return to the court for the New York Liberty, set to make her season debut on Sunday as the team faces the Dallas Wings. The guard confirmed her participation in a press conference following practice on Saturday, expressing her excitement about rejoining the action. “It’s exciting to me,” Ionescu said. “I haven’t had a regular-season game yet, so I’m excited. It feels like it’s been a while. It hasn’t, but it feels like it’s been forever having to watch from the sidelines.” Ionescu sustained a left ankle injury during a preseason game on May 4, which has kept her sidelined since. An MRI conducted after the injury revealed no major damage to the foot or ankle, a finding that aligns with her rookie season injury but with a different context. “I could put weight on my foot, so I knew it wasn’t major,” she explained. “But it wasn’t not an injury. I knew that because of what it felt like. I knew I was going to be out for a little bit, and thankfully I can come back a lot sooner than I was supposed to with returning now.” While the MRI ruled out significant structural issues, Ionescu acknowledged there was some damage to her ankle. However, she emphasized that the injury responded quickly to treatment, and it will not require further intervention or surgery. “Once it healed, I’m good to go,” she said. “I’m really excited to be back and work myself back into feeling good as it continues to heal.” Ionescu participated in practice this week, though she was labeled as questionable for the Liberty’s Thursday game against the Golden State Valkyries. She was ultimately ruled out for that matchup but remains optimistic about her readiness for Sunday’s contest.#dallas_wings #chris_demarco #new_york_liberty #sabrina_ionescu #golden_state_valkyries
Sabrina Ionescu sidelined as Liberty travel to expansion Fire The New York Liberty’s star guard, Sabrina Ionescu, will miss her first WNBA games in Oregon due to a left foot injury, delaying her return to the court until next season. The injury forces her to sit out the upcoming matchups against the expansion Portland Fire on Tuesday and Thursday at the Moda Center. Ionescu, a former University of Oregon standout, had been anticipated to make her debut with the Liberty, but the setback means she will not be part of the team’s early-season action. In her absence, the Liberty have leaned on Marine Johannes, who stepped up with a career-high 25 points, including six 3-pointers, in a 98-93 overtime victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday. The win improved the Liberty’s record to 2-0, marking a strong start to the 2026 season. Johannes’ performance was highlighted by her ability to contribute both offensively and defensively, with coach Chris DeMarco praising her competitiveness and confidence. “She’s a really special player,” DeMarco said. “She needs to have confidence, and we’re gonna live with the mistakes she makes. And it’s really part of her greatness and her all-around game.” Breanna Stewart added 23 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Pauline Astier, another French import, contributed 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Jonquel Jones also played a key role with 13 points and eight rebounds. The Liberty’s balanced scoring and team effort helped secure the win, showcasing their depth despite Ionescu’s absence. Meanwhile, the expansion Portland Fire made a strong debut with a record-breaking crowd of 19,335 for their season opener on Saturday.#portland_fire #chris_demarco #new_york_liberty #sabrina_ionescu #marine_johannes
Breanna Stewart Attributes Liberty's 2025 Struggles to Loss of 'Flow State' Under Brondello The New York Liberty’s championship defense in 2024, marked by seamless teamwork and dominance, turned into a first-round playoff collapse in 2025, ending Sandy Brondello’s tenure with the team. The Liberty faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Mercury, a team CBS Sports had not previously labeled a title contender. Veteran forward Breanna Stewart, a key figure in the team’s 2024 success, reflected on the challenges that derailed the 2025 season, pointing to the loss of the team’s “flow state” as a critical factor. Stewart described the “flow state” as a phase where the team’s actions were perfectly synchronized, a hallmark of their 2024 championship run. “When you’re in that flow state, you have to have chemistry and keep it,” she said. “We had a lot of changes between our championship season and 2025. Trying to recreate that flow state quickly didn’t work.” The Liberty’s 2024 campaign was defined by their Big Three—Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones—alongside Courtney Vandersloot, who orchestrated the team’s success. Their dominance was evident in sweeping the Atlanta Dream in the playoffs and defeating the Las Vegas Aces in the second round. However, the 2025 season brought significant disruptions. Vandersloot, a vital playmaker, returned to the Chicago Sky, while Jones suffered a right knee injury that sidelined her for multiple games. The team attempted to address Vandersloot’s absence by signing Natasha Cloud, but the chemistry that defined 2024 never materialized. Injuries and inconsistency plagued the roster, with the team’s rebounding numbers dropping from over 36 per game in 2024 to around 33 in 2025.#breanna_stewart #sandy_brondello #phoenix_mercury #chris_demarco #new_york_liberty
